If there is one word that best describes the current international context, it is ambiguity. Many of our most deeply held beliefs have been so thoroughly shaken that it is now difficult, if not impossible, to form an opinion or defend a position without being engulfed by extrapolations, each more incomprehensible and fanciful than the others. The flexibility of the interpretations are such that even the benchmarks we previously believed to be sacrosanct are now cheerfully being torn apart and watered down.
Consequently, terrorist groups consider themselves to be States, and States acting as terrorist groups. Private military companies are free to interfere in the internal affairs of other States. Faced with undeniable facts, often a casus belli, the law and justice are relegated to the background. Worse still, the numerical, geographical, ideological and above all, the economic variability of the international community maintains this grey area of international ethics and morality.
Those who take advantage of the deliberate dilution of conventional jurisprudence pride themselves of practising realpolitik. However, it is doubtful that this accessible and volatile approach is shared by the many people across all continents who are fighting against the resurgence of the principle of survival of the fittest and the legitimisation of the terrorist hydra.
Furthermore, violent extremism is increasingly tempted to use all available resources to challenge the legitimacy of States with the aim of replacing them. Consequently, there is every reason to expect an upsurge and intensification of hostile action. The recent reconfiguration of terrorist organisations, particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad basins; the upgrading of their equipment; the ever-increasing sophistication of their combat methods; and their pooling of resources are early signs of an imminent resurgence in their offensive activities. The current turmoil surrounding international migration could be beneficial to these organisations in terms of human resources and skills transfer.
Faced with the terrorist scourge on the one hand, and the uncertainty surrounding external aid on the other hand, States affected by this calamity must on their part consolidate their efforts to combat it. Ongoing dialogue between civilian and military leaders at operational and political-strategic levels is one of the key factors in achieving success in combatting this obscurantist pandemic. Another key factor is the support from the people.
Without this support, destroying terrorist strongholds would have little effect and would have to be repeated, ultimately undermining the capacity of the Forces of Law and Order. Not to mention the disastrous repercussions on the people that terrorists use as shelter and main targets.
The possibility of external intervention to break from this deadly stranglehold must also be ruled out, as nothing can replace the legitimacy that comes with belonging to disputed territories, not to mention our determination to retain full possession of them. In short, only our collective will to remain masters of our lands can spare us from the torments of oppression.
