Nnnal qaeda in africa pdf

But with the rise of al qaeda in africa, they have. Subsaharan africas three new islamic state affiliates. In may 2003, the kenyan government admitted that a key member of the al qaeda terror network was plotting an attack on western targets, confirming al qaedas. Africa becomes the new battleground for isis and al qaeda as they lose ground in mideast. Like other regional emirs, he has sworn an oath of fealty bayat to zawahiri, al qaeda s global chief. An essay in sada al jihad, an on line magazine which supports the global jihad, specifically outlines al qaedas interest in expanding into subsaharan africa as the general weakness of central government and high levels of corruption make it easier to. Al qaeda s african experiences a homogenous nucleus of arab jihadis secretly founded al qaeda. The easy spread of the jihadist ideology, the jihadist movements success in massively recruiting followers among local populations. About 5 years ago i read a nonfiction book called out of africa that detailed the last thousand years or so of the continents history. It has included a number of bombing attacks in north africa and supporting parties in civil wars in eritrea and somalia. Aqim considers european nations like france and spain to be its main enemies outside africa, given their regional proximity. Support france and regional actors committed to counterterrorist operations. Jan 17, 20 it has been over a year and a half since osama bin laden was killed in abbottabad, pakistan, but now it seems like al qaeda is everywhere.

France has taken up the challenge of defeating al qaeda s new stronghold in northern mali, its largest since the fall of afghanistan in 2001. As such, he is responsible for overseeing the jihadists efforts throughout north and west africa on behalf of al qaeda s senior leadership. Under continuing pressure, al qaeda today is more decentralized, more dependent on its affiliates and allies. Terrorist financing in west africa 2 20 acronyms aml antimoney laundering. At the outset, aqims global strategy was based on the triangular dynamic of the middle east where iraq serves as a magnet for potential recruits. With 2,000 members, aiai is the most powerful radical band in the horn of africa, and it has been funded by al qaeda in the past.

Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb has had international ambitions. While senior al qaeda figures reportedly remain based in pakistan, the network includes a number of affiliates across the middle east and africa including al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, and al shabaab. The institute for policy analysis of conflict ipac notes that jemaah islamiyah is not an immediate threat, but rather one with a 25yeartime frame for. Qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim have lurked in the deserts of northern mali and algeria, part of an ungoverned swath of land in northwest africa known as the sahel. Al qaidas misadventures in the horn of africa draws on recently declassified documents captured by the defense department about al qaidas first coalescence as an organization primarily from 19921994, original field work by ctc personnel, and careful country studies. Western countries have little desire to intervene in african conflicts. Forest abstract this article examines the question whether alqaeda has been able to develop significant influence in subsaharan africa. Abu azzam al ansari, al qaeda is moving to africa the interest of the mujahidin of al qaeda in africa is an old one but has progressed slowly. Al qaeda also retains a small but possibly growing presence in afghanistan. Shinn and others published al qaeda in east africa and the horn find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The rise of terrorism in africa is as a result of the instability, crisis, precarious situations and quagmires among others which are on top notch. Pdf alqaeda in east africa and the horn david shinn. Al qaeda calls for the removal of governments not based on its interpretation of sharia law because it views such governments as empowering human rulers and manmade legal systems over divine law.

Terrorist financing in west and central africa fatf. At least 300 people have been killed in more than 20 attacks that the al shabab group has carried out in kenya in the past five years based in the horn of africa, the al qaeda. The united states institute of peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by congress to promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts. The impact of the terrorism on the development in africa terrorism is the most serious threat to security and stability in west africa, especially the real impact on the development of the region. The war on terrorism in africa council on foreign relations. Qaeda as akin to a corporation, with osama bin laden acting as an agile chief executive officer issuing orders and soliciting ideas from subordinates. Introduction al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, launched in january 2007, is the most recently established franchise of osama bin ladens jihadi network, and it is also the only one to have so far escaped the decline and crisis of the other. Counter terrorist trends and analyses volume 9, issue 4 april 2017 a journal of the international centre for political violence and terrorism research. Al qaeda s affiliate there, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, is developing capabilities that threaten american interests in west africa in a way that does not raise red flags in washington.

The deadliest of these are boko haram, al qaeda in islamic maghreb aqim and al shabaab. In this section, i briefly outline the structure of al qaeda s network in north africa. Al shabaabs foreign threat to somalia by david shinn david shinn is an adjunct professor in the elliott school of international affairs at george washington university. Does alqaeda matter for africa georgetown university. Jan 17, 20 al qaeda in the land of the islamic maghreb aqim, to give its full name in english, has its roots in the bitter algerian civil war of the early 1990s, but has since evolved to take on a more. The growing influence of alqaeda on the african continent. As such, he is responsible for overseeing the jihadists efforts throughout north and west africa on behalf of al qaedas senior leadership. Al shabab in east africa is now stronger in africa than al qaeda. The network is comprised of a clandestine apparatus, al qaeda s official branch joined by its allies, as well as the ansar al. The arab spring was remarkable for many reasons but one feature particularly worth noting was the absence of al qaeda throughout the uprisings. Group listings are intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered o. Is and al qaeda, have glocalised to exploit indigenous grievances, recruit aspiring jihadists and fight for local and. Any assessment of this threats likelihood must consider the african record of osama bin laden and his associates.

The emergence of an isis affiliate in a region already beleaguered by al qaeda affiliates will not go unnoticed by governments susceptible to the scourge of extremist violence. Abu musab abdel wadoud also known as abdelmalek droukdel is the emir of aqim. The threat is compounded by globalization, with barriers to. Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. Data on attacks or fatalities does not attempt to distinguish the perpetrators of the events. Out of necessity, due to pressures from the security community, in the ensuing years it has transformed into a diffuse. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, sometimes referred to as al qaeda in the lands of the islamc maghreb aqlim, is an algerian salafijihadist organization that joined al qaeda aq in 2006. How us and france are battling alqaeda in africa bbc news. Al qaeda s central command structure in afghanistan and pakistan has been decimated. Africa over the past three years with the growth of east africa alqaeda, al shabaab, and alqaeda in the lands of the islamic maghreb aqim1 this sentiment is not uncommon.

Rise of terrorism in africa manohar parrikar institute for. Mar 16, 2016 al qaedas branch in africa makes a lethal comeback. In recent years commentators have begun to suggest that africa will be the next haven for al qaeda, with al shabaab, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and boko haram all having affiliations with al qaeda in varying degrees. Al qaeda s military chief, ali al rashidi, alias abu ubadiah al banshiri, drowned in lake victoria in may 1996 while preparing the bombings of american embassies in east africa.

Most, however, also operate as local insurgent movements that seek to attack and undermine state presence and control. Even within somalia, al shabaab continues to conduct. Alqaeda affiliates are threatening west africas most. Al qaeda core, its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents, and how they have changed over time.

From 2009 to 2011, activity by al qaeda was noted in 19 african nations and regions. Group listings are intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered. An insurgency is being waged by the salafist group for preaching and. Oct 25, 2017 alshabab in east africa is now stronger in africa than alqaeda is in the middle east and no longer looks to them for mentorship but still benefits from funds raised by their network in the. As a result, an arc of instability is spreading across africa, from nigeria in west africa, mali in sahel, libya in north africa, to somalia in east africa. The evolution of al qaeda report by the international centre for the study of radicalisation after the arab spring has drawn quite a bit of attention lately. Alqaedas influence in subsaharan africa universiteit leiden. The attached manual was located by the manchester england. Some would argue that the al qaeda of that period no longer exists. Al qaeda has conducted operations and recruited members in africa. Its experience fighting in syria has expanded al qaeda s contacts, and, given the proliferation of jihadist groups pdf worldwide67 active groups as of 2019there will be more opportunities for al qaeda to work with likeminded terrorists from north africa to southeast asia. While there are indications that terrorist organisations are associated with criminal organisations and with organised crime in the region, there is limited evidence to support these alleged links. Counterterrorism priorities and challenges in africa. In addition to local actors, france may be particularly weary of the isig threat in francophone africa given the countrys domestic dealings with isls.

Terrorism in the horn of africa united states institute of peace. The militant islamist group al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap was formed in january 2009 through a union of the saudi and yemeni branches of al qaeda. The islamic state, alqaedalinked groups, boko haram and other extremist movements are protagonists in todays deadliest crises, complicating efforts to end them. Analysis of the spread of al qaeda into west africa. Middle east and africa congressional research service 3 removal of apostate regimes. The threat from boko haram and ansaru the henry jackson society 3 the henry jackson society the henry jackson society is a crosspartisan thinktank based in london. The movement for unity and jihad in west africa mujao is a splinter group of the organization of al qaida in the islamic maghreb aqim, which formally announced its existence following its abduction of three humanitarian workers from a saharan refugee camp in. From 1991 to 1996, osama bin laden and other al qaeda leaders were based in sudan. Though it has stated many goals in the past, the group fights first and foremost to create a fundamentalist islamic state in the horn of africa jonathan masters and mohammed aly sergie. Like other regional emirs, he has sworn an oath of fealty bayat to zawahiri, al qaedas global chief. In west africa, the group known as the islamic state in the greater sahara isgs has gained prominence with a string of deadly attacks in september and october 2016. While senior al qaeda figures reportedly remain based in pakistan. Multiple crises throughout the worldin iraq, syria, ukraine, and now israelhave pulled attention from growing violence in east africa. Download pdf back to issue 15 recent analysis sheds critical light on the current state of jemaah islamiyah ji, an al qaeda linked organization responsible for a series of historical attacks across southeast asia.

Indeed, over the past yearplus, three new islamic state affiliates a have gained prominence in subsaharan africa. Military and intelligence leaders frequently express a fear that africas vast, weaklygoverned spaces and underemployed young male muslim. Us commander warns of african isis threat cnnpolitics. For while al qaeda leader ayman al zawahiri and his lieutenants in the afghanistanpakistan area consume much of our thinking on al qaeda, the united states is also. Below is thomas joscelyns testimony to the senate foreign relations committee on al qaedas network in africa and the threat it poses to the us. Isis and al qaeda represent major threats and are growing in strength in west africa according to the commander of us special operations in africa, maj. Jan 24, 20 last weeks terrorist attack at the in amenas gas complex in algeria, along with the recent success of the militant groups fighting government forces in mali, indicate al qaeda and other terrorist groups are gaining influence in north africa.

Alqaedas union with alshabaab threatens both the horn of africasomalia, ethiopia, sudan, eritrea and djiboutiand east africa, which includes kenya, uganda. Previously, aqim was known as the salafist group for preaching and combat gspc. Jan 10, 2017 although islamic state isis has made significant headway elsewhere on the continent, its efforts in east africa have reaped little reward to date. Dec 06, 20 at africom, mr benson said al qaeda and its affiliates in africa present the most immediate security challenge to us interests in the region, and countering this threat is a top priority. Al qaeda and the threat in north africa fdds long war journal. Specifically, the africa center for strategic studies has identified 5 major categories of militant islamists groups in africa. While senior al qaeda figures reportedly remain based in pakistan, the network maintains a number of affiliates across the middle east and africa including al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, and al shabaab. Compiled by the africa center for strategic studies, this graphic shows violent events involving the listed groups over the 12month period ending september 30, 2018. The recent rise of jihadist movements in west africa, including boko haram in the lake chad region and al qaeda in the islamic maghreb and its affiliates in the sahelsaharan region, has puzzled many observers.

An assessment of the operational and organizational structure of qaeda al core, its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents, and how it has changed over time. Al qaeda took credit for the attack on two black hawk helicopters during the battle of mogadishu in somalia in 1993, as well as the world. Our founders and supporters are united by a common interest in fostering a strong british, european, and. Al qaeda and the threat in north africa fdds long war. The al qaeda manual the attached manual was located by the manchester england metropolitan police during a search of an al qaeda members home. Kasserine is an impoverished city in western tunisia, where the high unemployment rate and the lack of opportunities for young people have made it a recruiting area for the islamic state and al qaeda. Established in 1984, the institute meets its congressional mandate through an array of programs, including research grants, fellow. If you wish to view the testimony with footnotes included, download the pdf by clicking here. They have exploited wars, state collapse and geopolitical upheaval in the middle east, gained new footholds in africa and pose an evolving threat elsewhere. The attacks in the north may be a move to regain control by the pro al qaeda al shabaab leadership, after the recent declaration of allegiance to isis by abdul qadir meemen, leader of the faction based in puntland. Movement for the unity and jihad in west africa mujao. This discussion begins with an overview of what we know primarily about alqaedas historical presence on the african continent, starting from north africa, where. Al qaedas branch in africa makes a lethal comeback the new. Al qaeda has always been aware of the importance of this huge continent and since its emergence attempted at feeling its pulse.

From 2009 to 2011, activity by alqaeda was noted in 19 african nations and regions. Alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap council on foreign. The manual was found in a computer file described as the military series related to the declaration of jihad. Rise of terrorism in africa manohar parrikar institute. The point at which the us learned about al qaeda activities in east africa and the horn is significant in terms of the us policy response. Al qaeda also retains a small but growing presence in afghanistan. Jan 21, 20 france has taken up the challenge of defeating al qaedas new stronghold in northern mali, its largest since the fall of afghanistan in 2001. The sahel is the transitional zone between northern africa and subsaharan africa. Middle east and africa october 10, 2014 open pdf 1 mb after more than a decade of combating al qaeda in afghanistan and pakistan, the united states now faces an increasingly diverse threat from al qaeda affiliates in the middle east and africa and from emerging groups that have adopted aspects of al qaeda s ideology but operate relatively.

Al shababs ideology is typically described as a brand of salafism and wahhabism that supports takfir, the excommunication of apostates or unbelievers. The al qaeda network today also comprises semiautonomous or self radicalized actors, who often have only peripheral or ephemeral ties to either the core cadre in pakistan or affiliated groups elsewhere. In order of lethality on the continent, these include boko haram, al shabaab, isislinked groups in north africa, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, and sinaifocused groups. The united states institute of peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by congress to promote the prevention. Al qaeda s group in somalia, al shabaab, now has an operational reach that covers all of the horn of africa. To that end, it is currently engaged in an antigovernment campaign. Isis and al qaeda continue to recruit extremists in. Alqaeda terrorism and islamist extremism in east africa ari. Rather, the challenges posed by al qaeda s global enterprise have become more diffuse. Four regional al qaeda organizations operate on the continent, which in turn. Al qaeda is setting conditions in the sahel that will threaten us and european interests.

Al qaeda in north africa 78 shocking, it is important to understand that areas in north africa such as mali, morocco, and algeria have long had an al qaeda presence within it, and that these nations are simply part of a larger global network that goes from south east asia through the middle east through the horn. Research alqaeda in east africa and the horn horn affairs. Africa is the new terrorist battleground for isis and alqaeda. Organizations such as alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim algeria, sahel and.