United Nations: Religious schooling ”reduces radicalisation” – Report

Many young Africans drawn to extremist groups know “little to nothing” about religious texts and interpretations, a UN study has found. The survey, the first of its kind in Africa, profiled nearly 500 voluntary recruits to militant groups including al-Shabab and Boko Haram.  Finding a job is “the most acute need at the time of […]

Many young Africans drawn to extremist groups know “little to nothing” about religious texts and interpretations, a UN study has found.

The survey, the first of its kind in Africa, profiled nearly 500 voluntary recruits to militant groups including al-Shabab and Boko Haram. 

Finding a job is “the most acute need at the time of joining a group,” the report finds.

Most of those surveyed reported unhappy childhoods and a lack of parental supervision. Researchers from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) spoke to recruits in Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Cameroon and Niger to compile the report.

Based on these sample groups, they say that receiving “at least six years of religious schooling [is] shown to reduce the likelihood of joining an extremist group by as much as 32%”.

Intervention at a local level is the best way to prevent young people from being radicalised, the UNDP report authors say.