Introduction: States, borders and political violence in Africa / Olivier J. Walther and William F.S. Miles -- Part I: Social networks and spatial patterns -- Spatializing the social networks of the First Congo War / Steven M. Radil -- Exploring the spatial and social networks of transnational rebellions in Africa / Sean Everton, Dan Cunningham, Kristen Tsolis -- Networks and spatial patterns of extremist organizations in north and west Africa / Olivier J. Walther, Christian Leuprecht, David Skillicorn -- Spatial and temporal diffusion of political violence in north and west Africa / David B. Skillicorn, Olivier J. Walther, Qur'an Zheng, Christian Leuprecht -- Part II: Transnational extremism and policy responses -- Nigeria's Boko Haram: Local, national and transnational dynamics / Caitriona Dowd -- External incentives and the African subregional response to Boko Haram / Nikolas Emmanuel -- Part III: States, civil society and transnational extremism -- Terror, territory and statehood from Al Qaeda to the Islamic State / Jaume Castan Pinos -- Public perceptions of violent extremism in Mali / Bruce Whitehouse -- Jihads and borders: social networks and spatial patterns in Africa, present, past and future / William F.S. Miles.