Nnnal qaeda in africa pdf

Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb has had international ambitions. It has included a number of bombing attacks in north africa and supporting parties in civil wars in eritrea and somalia. Like other regional emirs, he has sworn an oath of fealty bayat to zawahiri, al qaedas global chief. Shinn and others published al qaeda in east africa and the horn find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Forest abstract this article examines the question whether alqaeda has been able to develop significant influence in subsaharan africa. If you wish to view the testimony with footnotes included, download the pdf by clicking here. Abu musab abdel wadoud also known as abdelmalek droukdel is the emir of aqim. 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. Any assessment of this threats likelihood must consider the african record of osama bin laden and his associates.

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. 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. Al shababs ideology is typically described as a brand of salafism and wahhabism that supports takfir, the excommunication of apostates or unbelievers. They have exploited wars, state collapse and geopolitical upheaval in the middle east, gained new footholds in africa and pose an evolving threat elsewhere. Al qaeda and the threat in north africa fdds long war journal. Multiple crises throughout the worldin iraq, syria, ukraine, and now israelhave pulled attention from growing violence in east africa. Group listings are intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered o. Previously, aqim was known as the salafist group for preaching and combat gspc. 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. 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. Most, however, also operate as local insurgent movements that seek to attack and undermine state presence and control.

Terrorist financing in west and central africa fatf. 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. Isis and al qaeda continue to recruit extremists in. Al qaeda s group in somalia, al shabaab, now has an operational reach that covers all of the horn of africa. 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. Alqaeda terrorism and islamist extremism in east africa ari.

But with the rise of al qaeda in africa, they have. Rather, the challenges posed by al qaeda s global enterprise have become more diffuse. The united states institute of peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by congress to promote the prevention. Established in 1984, the institute meets its congressional mandate through an array of programs, including research grants, fellow. Analysis of the spread of al qaeda into west africa. The sahel is the transitional zone between northern africa and subsaharan africa. While senior al qaeda figures reportedly remain based in pakistan. 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 arab spring was remarkable for many reasons but one feature particularly worth noting was the absence of al qaeda throughout the uprisings. Al qaeda core, its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents, and how they have changed over time. Rise of terrorism in africa manohar parrikar institute for.

From 2009 to 2011, activity by al qaeda was noted in 19 african nations and regions. The attached manual was located by the manchester england. 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. 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 deadliest of these are boko haram, al qaeda in islamic maghreb aqim and al shabaab. 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. 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. From 1991 to 1996, osama bin laden and other al qaeda leaders were based in sudan. Al qaeda s african experiences a homogenous nucleus of arab jihadis secretly founded al qaeda. 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. In this section, i briefly outline the structure of al qaeda s network in north africa. The al qaeda manual the attached manual was located by the manchester england metropolitan police during a search of an al qaeda members home. Counterterrorism priorities and challenges in africa.

Is and al qaeda, have glocalised to exploit indigenous grievances, recruit aspiring jihadists and fight for local and. 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. 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. 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. 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. Four regional al qaeda organizations operate on the continent, which in turn. 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. As such, he is responsible for overseeing the jihadists efforts throughout north and west africa on behalf of al qaedas senior leadership. 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. 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. Terrorism in the horn of africa united states institute of peace. Africa becomes the new battleground for isis and al qaeda as they lose ground in mideast. As such, he is responsible for overseeing the jihadists efforts throughout north and west africa on behalf of al qaeda s senior leadership.

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. A new scourge in addition to the boko haram conflict in nigeria and its extension to other countries in the lake chad basin, since january 2016 two major terrorist attacks have fundamentally shaken the security landscape in west africa, underscoring terrorism as an emerging threat to the region. 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. Al qaeda has conducted operations and recruited members in africa. Military and intelligence leaders frequently express a fear that africas vast, weaklygoverned spaces and underemployed young male muslim.

Support france and regional actors committed to counterterrorist operations. Rise of terrorism in africa manohar parrikar institute. 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. 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. 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. Qaeda as akin to a corporation, with osama bin laden acting as an agile chief executive officer issuing orders and soliciting ideas from subordinates. 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. 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. 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.

In addition to local actors, france may be particularly weary of the isig threat in francophone africa given the countrys domestic dealings with isls. 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. Specifically, the africa center for strategic studies has identified 5 major categories of militant islamists groups in africa. How us and france are battling alqaeda in africa bbc news. Indeed, over the past yearplus, three new islamic state affiliates a have gained prominence in subsaharan africa. Out of necessity, due to pressures from the security community, in the ensuing years it has transformed into a diffuse. 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 network is comprised of a clandestine apparatus, al qaeda s official branch joined by its allies, as well as the ansar al. Al qaedas branch in africa makes a lethal comeback the new. Mar 16, 2016 al qaedas branch in africa makes a lethal comeback. Alqaedas union with alshabaab threatens both the horn of africasomalia, ethiopia, sudan, eritrea and djiboutiand east africa, which includes kenya, uganda.

Like other regional emirs, he has sworn an oath of fealty bayat to zawahiri, al qaeda s global chief. Al shabab in east africa is now stronger in africa than al qaeda. 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. Organizations such as alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim algeria, sahel and. 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.

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. Alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap council on foreign. Our founders and supporters are united by a common interest in fostering a strong british, european, and. Western countries have little desire to intervene in african conflicts. 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. To that end, it is currently engaged in an antigovernment campaign. 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 qaeda has always been aware of the importance of this huge continent and since its emergence attempted at feeling its pulse. Counter terrorist trends and analyses volume 9, issue 4 april 2017 a journal of the international centre for political violence and terrorism research. Foreign service, including as ambassador to ethiopia and state department coordinator for somalia during the international intervention in. 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.

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. 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. 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. The growing influence of alqaeda on the african continent. Group listings are intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered. 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. 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. Al qaeda s central command structure in afghanistan and pakistan has been decimated. 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. Does alqaeda matter for africa georgetown university. This discussion begins with an overview of what we know primarily about alqaedas historical presence on the african continent, starting from north africa, where. 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. Aqim considers european nations like france and spain to be its main enemies outside africa, given their regional proximity. 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.

Research alqaeda in east africa and the horn horn affairs. 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. 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. The islamic state, alqaedalinked groups, boko haram and other extremist movements are protagonists in todays deadliest crises, complicating efforts to end them. Subsaharan africas three new islamic state affiliates. The threat is compounded by globalization, with barriers to. Africa is the new terrorist battleground for isis and alqaeda. Al qaeda is setting conditions in the sahel that will threaten us and european interests. The easy spread of the jihadist ideology, the jihadist movements success in massively recruiting followers among local populations.

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. Pdf alqaeda in east africa and the horn david shinn. 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. 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. Terrorist financing in west africa 2 20 acronyms aml antimoney laundering. 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. From 2009 to 2011, activity by alqaeda was noted in 19 african nations and regions.

Us commander warns of african isis threat cnnpolitics. 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. 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. Under continuing pressure, al qaeda today is more decentralized, more dependent on its affiliates and allies. Even within somalia, al shabaab continues to conduct. Alqaeda affiliates are threatening west africas most. The war on terrorism in africa council on foreign relations. The manual was found in a computer file described as the military series related to the declaration of jihad. Al qaeda and the threat in north africa fdds long war. Al qaeda also retains a small but growing presence in afghanistan. Middle east and africa congressional research service 3 removal of apostate regimes. An insurgency is being waged by the salafist group for preaching and. Alqaedas influence in subsaharan africa universiteit leiden. Movement for the unity and jihad in west africa mujao.