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The Westgate Mall attack in Kenya threw the spotlight on al-Shabab, a Somalia-based group of Islamic militants that claimed responsibility. But its relationship with al-Hijra, a relatively obscure cell of extremists in Kenya, represents what terrorism analysts say is a worrying trend in Africa: an increase in collaboration among religious radicals across borders and vast, poorly policed regions.
For now, the experts say, this networking lets militant groups in Africa aid one another in the face of pressure from security forces, but doesn't entail a coordinated, continent-wide strategy that could sideline the local agendas they hold dear. The fear is that the more these groups talk to each other, the more people they will kill as they thwart efforts to contain them.
But some observers believe al-Hijra may have played a role in the mall attack, noting its close ties to Somali militants.
Al-Hijra, formerly known as the Muslim Youth Center, has been "plagued by unexplained killings, disappearances, continuous 'catch and release' arrest raids and operational disruptions," the United Nations said in a July report on Somalia and Eritrea. "Al-Hijra is striving to regain the initiative, in part through its fighters in Somalia returning to conduct new and more complex operations and through strengthening its ties to other groups in the region," the U.N. report said. It said al-Hijra was building links with extremists in Tanzania, as well as al-Shabab affiliates in Rwanda and Burundi.
Other key groups are al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, in north and west Africa; Nigeria's Boko Haram, blamed for mass killings of civilians in the past week; and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia.
Braniff noted "increasing lethality of groups on the periphery of al-Qaida." According to U.S. State Department figures, Somalia and Nigeria were among the top 10 countries with the most terrorist attacks in the world in 2012.....snip~
Islamic fighters connect in Africa
Well we knew this would be the next step in the Strategy.....co-operation and working together. How do they prevent this from happening, especially in Africa? These countries governments never collaborate together over anything. So why should it fall to any outside their own Continent?
Another concern would be all the enforceable Action resolutions that the French is filing in the UN over many of these countries in Africa. Seeking to involve others from the West to come in and save the day for the French. Who wont take their asses in and handle their own interference with these countries. Shouldn't something be said to the French about getting involved into others affairs. Shouldn't they be reminded they are no power and have no power. So they don't have a Right to dictate nor stir up any problems?
For now, the experts say, this networking lets militant groups in Africa aid one another in the face of pressure from security forces, but doesn't entail a coordinated, continent-wide strategy that could sideline the local agendas they hold dear. The fear is that the more these groups talk to each other, the more people they will kill as they thwart efforts to contain them.
But some observers believe al-Hijra may have played a role in the mall attack, noting its close ties to Somali militants.
Al-Hijra, formerly known as the Muslim Youth Center, has been "plagued by unexplained killings, disappearances, continuous 'catch and release' arrest raids and operational disruptions," the United Nations said in a July report on Somalia and Eritrea. "Al-Hijra is striving to regain the initiative, in part through its fighters in Somalia returning to conduct new and more complex operations and through strengthening its ties to other groups in the region," the U.N. report said. It said al-Hijra was building links with extremists in Tanzania, as well as al-Shabab affiliates in Rwanda and Burundi.
Other key groups are al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, in north and west Africa; Nigeria's Boko Haram, blamed for mass killings of civilians in the past week; and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia.
Braniff noted "increasing lethality of groups on the periphery of al-Qaida." According to U.S. State Department figures, Somalia and Nigeria were among the top 10 countries with the most terrorist attacks in the world in 2012.....snip~
Islamic fighters connect in Africa
Well we knew this would be the next step in the Strategy.....co-operation and working together. How do they prevent this from happening, especially in Africa? These countries governments never collaborate together over anything. So why should it fall to any outside their own Continent?
Another concern would be all the enforceable Action resolutions that the French is filing in the UN over many of these countries in Africa. Seeking to involve others from the West to come in and save the day for the French. Who wont take their asses in and handle their own interference with these countries. Shouldn't something be said to the French about getting involved into others affairs. Shouldn't they be reminded they are no power and have no power. So they don't have a Right to dictate nor stir up any problems?
