The Role of Jihadists in Tunisia's Unrest

Jihadist elements in Tunisia are attempting to exploit the political chaos stemming from the killing of opposition lawmaker Mohammed Brahmi on July 25 — the second such assassination in the country in the past six months — and it appears that they may have played a role in instigating it. As demonstrated in a pattern of increasing attacks, the jihadists' likely aim is to sow enough political unrest to bring down the current government, dissolve the National Constituent Assembly and create the type of chaos in which such militant groups tend to thrive.

Ultimately, radical Islamist militants may suffer the unintended consequences of their attacks. The capabilities of Tunisian jihadists are fairly limited, and violence will push Tunisia's squabbling political factions to unite against a common enemy. But in the near-term, violence and clashes with government forces are primed to increase as jihadists try to take advantage of political discord in Tunis and recruit more fighters to their cause.