{"product_id":"jihad-in-the-dust-jorge-balula-9798245774602","title":"Jihad in the Dust: Evolution and Conflict in the Central Sahel","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe Central Sahel is one of the world's deadliest conflict zones, yet the West often misunderstands why.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eJihad in the Dus\u003c\/b\u003et\u003c\/i\u003e exposes the reality of the conflict consuming Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Jorge Balula, a Portuguese Army officer who served on the ground with the EU Training Mission, challenges the standard narrative. He argues that the violence driving groups like al-Qa'ida's JNIM and the Islamic State isn't just about faith-it is about survival and profit. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough analysis of conflict data from 2018 to 2025, Balula reveals how specific economic tactics-cattle rustling, gold mining, and extortion-fuel the insurgency more than ideology does. The book contrasts JNIM's strategy of \"calculated moderation\" against the Islamic State's self-defeating brutality, showing exactly why one group is winning while the other fails. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis is not a distant academic study; it is a hard look at the reality of modern terrorism. For military professionals, policymakers, or anyone trying to make sense of West Africa's collapse, this book provides the clear, evidence-based answers you need to understand the threats looming in 2026.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jorge Balula\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798245774602\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/27\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 190\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.58lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.40d","brand":"Jorge Balula","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48659724796159,"sku":"9798245774602","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/jihad-in-the-dust-jorge-balula-9798245774602","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}