Tag Archive for: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Reader’s response: modest assistance for African counterterrorism

A.U. and Somali Forces Capture Strategic Positions in Fight Against Shabaab

Africa’s more stable than ever before. The continent’s economy is growing faster than any other’s. According to International Monetary Fund figures, 10 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies are located in Africa. The continent’s population is expected to double by 2050 to more than 2 billion people.

Yet as Tobias Feakin makes clear in his recent report and blog post, the spread of violent Islamic extremism in Africa is troubling; there’s no doubt that terrorism is limiting Africa’s progress.

A peaceful and economically strong Africa can counter the threats of terrorism. A more secure Africa is one in which Australian engagement can flourish. So what can we do to help Africa here?

I’d suggest we should offer modest security assistance, focused on those states who respect democratic principles: we shouldn’t be offering security help to regimes that abuse their own citizens. Read more

New frontiers of Islamist extremism in Africa

The Somali National Army and troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) successfully executed a joint operation in the Lower Shabelle Region of Somalia today, capturing the key town of Qoryooley from the extremist group Al-Shabaab.

It’d be easy for the public to believe that al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism is a new feature of the African security landscape, yet the ideology, personnel and links between groups have been growing for the past 25 years. Still, it’s really only over the past decade that various groups that operated with a predominantly nationalistic agenda have increasingly become aligned with al-Qaeda in name, ideology, methodologies of attack and tactics. A new jihadism is spreading across Africa.

Today ASPI releases a Special Report that examines three of those groups—Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Shabaab and Boko Haram—and the way they’ve evolved, especially in terms of the linkages between them and their adoption of al-Qaeda’s ideology and tactics. All of those groups are separate from the al-Qaeda core. They haven’t taken up the al-Qaeda model because they’ve been told to, but they’re emulating it. They’re all looking to become dispersed, decentralised movements that frame local grievances in the language of the global jihad. They’re sharing tactics, training and personnel to further their respective causes while operating across national boundaries to escape capture and raise funds through criminal activities. Their attacks are becoming more ambitious and audacious and, if left unchallenged, could lead to the formation of terrorist safe havens. Read more