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The common explanation of terrorism in literature is that it is a political phenomenon. But this paper argues that terrorism is place bound and location specific. It explores how geography connects to the understanding of terrorism as a territorialized phenomenon, stressing the importance of lagging regions which often serve as excuses for terrorism and safe havens for terrorist groups. The argument presented is premised on textual data, expert sources of information on terrorism, and examples largely drawn from Africa to illustrate the bifurcation of terrorism into territorial and non-territorial terrorist groups. A component of an effective counter-terrorism strategy, the paper concludes, must include revamping the depressed regions in Africa