The growing presence of terrorist movements across North Africa, particularly in Libya, threatens to destabilize the whole region. Even in the best case scenario, involving a peace deal in Libya, there is no prospect of an end to the threat posed by Islamic State. Overseas investment in the region will continue to be hit.At the London launch of its 2015 Strategic Survey on 15 September, the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) painted a bleak picture of the outlook for terrorism and security in Africa and the Middle East. Pointing to the failings of western strategy in dealing with the growing threat of Islamic State (IS), the expert panel suggested that this is a threat that is here to stay.

Islamic State is “a problem that is going to have to be managed for some time to come,” said Nigel Inkster, IISS director of transnational threats and political risk. “I don’t think they’re going away any time soon.” (CONTINUED - 5264 WORDS)