Publication

This brief analyzes the surge in jihadist threats to France and its former colonies since the 1990s. The author maintains that the main reasons why al-Qaeda's networks target France are - amongst others - its colonial past and its military presence in Muslim countries. He also describes al-Qaeda's fighting strategy and capacity for adaptability as well as its most recently adopted tactics, such as virtual jihadism, kidnapping, the recruitment of French jihadists and the establishment of drug trafficking networks for funding purposes.