Introduction: States, borders and political violence in Africa / Spatializing the social networks of the First Congo War / Exploring the spatial and social networks of transnational rebellions in Africa / Networks and spatial patterns of extremist organizations in north and west Africa / Spatial and temporal diffusion of political violence in north and west Africa / Nigeria's Boko Haram: Local, national and transnational dynamics / External incentives and the African subregional response to Boko Haram / Terror, territory and statehood from Al Qaeda to the Islamic State / Public perceptions of violent extremism in Mali / Jihads and borders: social networks and spatial patterns in Africa, present, past and future