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Experts Confirm Link of Boko Haram to Al-Qeada
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published November 21st, 2011
- Washington File
- Unrated
Recent global developments have continued to confirm BusinessWorld report linking activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria to Al- Qaeda in Northern Africa.
At the anti-terrorism international confab last week, participants establish the link between the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the network’s north African wing and Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Attended by some 150 terrorism experts from about 30 countries, it was stated that “ the group, responsible for attacks and the kidnapping of westerners in the region, is viewed as being a mentor for Nigerian group Boko Haram..”
Organized by the United States and Turkey and chaired by Algeria the participants raised concerns over controlling their large borders as they struggle against the influence of Al-Qaeda’s North African branch and the need for better information sharing between neighbouring nations.
A European diplomatic official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the forum had been constructive and countries from the Sahel region were able to express themselves without the constraints sometimes seen in international conferences. The Global Counterterrorism Forum is coordinated by Daniel Benjamin, an ambassador-at-large for the US State Department. The forum held an initial meeting in Washington, where members of its justice group and special prosecutors convened two weeks ago.
BusinessWorld recently reported that Boko Haram has links with al-Qaeda in Algeria. The report which was in early September stated that i ntelligence reports show there is coordination between the Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram and the Algerian-based north African branch of al Qaeda, the Algerian deputy foreign minister has said.
“We have no doubts that coordination exists between Boko Haram and al Qaeda,” Abdelkader Messahel told reporters. “The way both groups operate and intelligence reports show that there is cooperation.”
AQIM grew out of a conflict in Algeria between the government and Islamist militants. In the past few years it has expanded its activities to include Mali, Niger and Mauritania but was not thought to have reached as far south as Nigeria.” Algeria’s assessment of ties between AQIM and Boko Haram carries authority because Algeria has the biggest intelligence gathering operation on al Qaeda of any country in the region.
At the anti-terrorism international confab last week, participants establish the link between the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the network’s north African wing and Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Attended by some 150 terrorism experts from about 30 countries, it was stated that “ the group, responsible for attacks and the kidnapping of westerners in the region, is viewed as being a mentor for Nigerian group Boko Haram..”
Organized by the United States and Turkey and chaired by Algeria the participants raised concerns over controlling their large borders as they struggle against the influence of Al-Qaeda’s North African branch and the need for better information sharing between neighbouring nations.
A European diplomatic official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the forum had been constructive and countries from the Sahel region were able to express themselves without the constraints sometimes seen in international conferences. The Global Counterterrorism Forum is coordinated by Daniel Benjamin, an ambassador-at-large for the US State Department. The forum held an initial meeting in Washington, where members of its justice group and special prosecutors convened two weeks ago.
BusinessWorld recently reported that Boko Haram has links with al-Qaeda in Algeria. The report which was in early September stated that i ntelligence reports show there is coordination between the Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram and the Algerian-based north African branch of al Qaeda, the Algerian deputy foreign minister has said.
“We have no doubts that coordination exists between Boko Haram and al Qaeda,” Abdelkader Messahel told reporters. “The way both groups operate and intelligence reports show that there is cooperation.”
AQIM grew out of a conflict in Algeria between the government and Islamist militants. In the past few years it has expanded its activities to include Mali, Niger and Mauritania but was not thought to have reached as far south as Nigeria.” Algeria’s assessment of ties between AQIM and Boko Haram carries authority because Algeria has the biggest intelligence gathering operation on al Qaeda of any country in the region.
