Original version

BBC World Service Online

HARDtalk

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Politics

In-depth, hard-hitting interviews with newsworthy personalities.

HARDtalk: Robert Fowler - Former UN Special Representative to Niger

Magazines & Reviews

News

Robert Fowler

05/06/2013 GMT

Robert Fowler - Former UN Special Representative to Niger

BBC World Service - HARDtalk, Robert Fowler - Former UN Special Representative to Niger

Should events such as the brief Islamist takeover of northern Mali serve as a wakeup call?

Robert Fowler, a senior Canadian diplomat, was held hostage for five months by Al Qaeda in Niger in 2009. He says that since his capture and release, terror attacks and events in the region, such as the brief Islamist takeover of northern Mali, should serve as a wake-up call of a jihadist danger. 

He believes militants aim to set up a seven thousand kilometre Islamic caliphate stretching from Mauritania to Somalia. Is he scaremongering, or does he have a point?

(Image: Robert Fowler, Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

BBC World Service

Accessibility links

Programme Index

HARDtalk

Robert Fowler - Former UN Special Representative to Niger

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service