Geography, governance, guns: characterising Islamist terrorist sanctuaries in Maritime Southeast Asia (2014 – 2021)

Sanctuaries are strategic assets that are both the means and end objectives of terrorist groups. Groups with sanctuaries are often more devastating than groups without. Hence, it is critical to investigate the cause of persistent terrorist sanctuaries. The literature on terrorist sanctuaries identified history, geography, and governance as key factors contributing to the persistent terrorist sanctuaries. This article supplements existing arguments by contextualizing history, geography, and governance while discussing the role of terrorist capabilities. Hence, in the context of maritime Southeast Asia, the data suggest that the combination of the geographical features at the Sulu-Celebes Seas, the relationship between Terrorist-Territory-Tribe, and access to firearms significantly improves the group’s ability to hold territory.