Africa Archivi - Pagina 110 di 229 - Islam Media Analysis

Nigerian Air Force locates Boko Haram’s new hideout, bombs area

17 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

The Nigerian Air Force said its fighter jets struck Boko Haram new hideout about one nautical mile south of Tumbum Rego in northern Borno, according to thebreakingtimes.com .

A statement from Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said the NAF fighter jets and helicopter gunship assaulted the location in a coordinated day and night operation following Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). Famuyiwa added that the intelligence report showed that Boko Haram insurgents who attacked own Surface Forces at Kangarwa the night of 12 January 2017 had withdrawn to the said location.

“NAF has intensified aerial patrol over the entire operation in the North East, as well as offensive mission around the Green Belt region near Niger and Chad Republics.

“The renewed effort is aimed at denying the remnants of the insurgents the opportunity to regroup and launch attack on own Surface Forces or people within the host communities.”

Germany to deploy Tiger and NH90s to Mali

16 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

The German government approved the deployment of four Tiger attack and four NH90 medical evacuation helicopters to Mali to replace the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) Apaches and Chinooks being withdrawn.

4 Al-Shabaab militants killed in southwest Somalia

16 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

A joint military operation of the Somali National Army and African Union forces AMISOM has felled at least four militants from the Somali-based militant group Al-Shabaab in the country’s southwest region, a local administrator has said to xinhuanet.com .

Abshir Moalim Sharif, district deputy commissioner in Dinsoor district in Bakool region told the media on Sunday that the forces launched ambush at the militants in a village outside Dinsoor town killing four and inflicting injuries to several others.

“Somali forces and AMISOM this morning killed four Al-Shabaab fighters and injured several others in Rahoole village outside Dinsoor town. One officer sustained injuries but our forces now have full control of the area” said Sharif.

The allied forces have been hitting several Al-Shabaab hideouts in southwest and central Somalia as it reinforces its force to secure the ongoing parliamentary elections in Somalia.

Senatorial and Lower House elections for the breakaway region of Somaliland are still going on in Mogadishu.

Security has largely been beefed up in Mogadishu ahead of presidential poll expected to take place this month.

Nigeria: Boko Haram bomb mosque at the University Of Maiduguri

16 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

A bomb explosion has occurred in a mosque at the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria’s troubled northeastern state of Borno.

Eyewitnesses told Saharareporters that an explosion rocked the university during early morning while some students and staff of the university were observing prayer at 6:30 am.

Security forces have been mobilized to the scene of the attack. Our sources said several persons have been killed, but there is no official confirmation of casualties.

Nigeria: troops kill 13 Boko Haram in clearance operations

15 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

The Nigerian Army on Sunday said soldiers killed 13 Boko Haram members during clearance operations in Bomboshe and Sinbaya in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno, according to punchng.com.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said in a statement in Maiduguri that the operations were carried out on Thursday and Friday.

According to him, the troops also discovered and destroyed the insurgents’ night market at Boboshe and neutralised five terrorists.

“The Army troop also rescued 58 persons comprising 35 women and 23 children held in captive by the terrorists.

“During the operations, the troops met stiff resistance from suspected terrorists, eight of whom were neutralised around Sinbaya.

“As part of the clearance operations of remnants and fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, troops have continually carried out raids, patrols and cordon operations.

“It is in that regards that troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army on Operation Lafiya Dole, conducted joint operations with vigilantes and civilian JTF in suspected terrorists hide outs.

“In the last two days, the troops have carried out patrols and clearance operations in various villages and towns in Dikwa Local Government Area.

“On Thursday, Jan. 13, with the assistance of some local vigilantes and civilian JTF, the troops carried out fighting patrols and clearance operations in Awada and Sinbaya villages.

“They also carried out similar clearance operation at Anaduwa village where they removed Boko Haram terrorists’ flags and recovered four Isuzu vehicles and three motorcycles.

“Yesterday (Saturday), they also carried out a joint patrol to Agulari, Kirinari, Gubdori and Yale villages, including Talwari village, which served as harbour for the terrorists.

“Although the terrorists have abandoned the locations, the troops observed traces of their activities such as hoisted Boko Haram flags in the area.

“Troops also arrested the terrorists’ food store keeper and recovered two Isuzu vehicles, grinding machines and vehicles workshop tools.

“They recovered five Pump Action Guns, two pumping machines, eight vehicle tyres and one battery.

“The troops proceeded to Dagumba, Boboshe, Kajeri, Boskoro and Saleri and cleared the areas.

“The patrol recovered one Toyota truck at Kajeri and arrested one Boko Haram terrorist in Boskoro village.

“However, one soldier sustained injury during the operation and is receiving medical attention,’’ the statement stated.

Usman reminded members of the public to always pass information on suspicious persons in their environment to security agencies.

Nigeria: Army kill 10 Islamist Boko Haram terrorists in Borno

14 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

Nigeria army lost three soldiers to Boko Haram insurgents and also killed 10 of the insurgents while repelling the terrorists attack in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State reported to dailypost.ng.

The Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman disclosed this in a statement.

Usman said that the operation was carried out with the assistance of the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance planes.

He said, “The futile attack, launched by the terrorists group from the shores of the Lake Chad in the evening, lasted till midnight.

“The resilient troops repelled the incursion and in the process killed 10 insurgents and wounded several others.”

The spokesman said one Pulemyot Kalashnkova Machine, PKM, gun with 67 rounds of ammunition, one AK-47 Riffle with 18 rounds of ammunition, two AK-Rifle top covers and three Dane guns with one cartridge were recovered from the terrorists.

“Others include, one rocket propelled grenade tube with three bombs, one rocket propelled grenade charger and smoke grenade, one hand held (HH) Motorola radio and antenna, one copy of Holy Qur’an and Boko Haram terrorists’ flag.

”Unfortunately, three soldiers died in the course of the encounter, while 27 others sustained injuries.

”The bodies of the gallant soldiers and those injured have since been evacuated.

“He said the troops have continued to trail those terrorists that escaped with gunshot wounds and intensified vigilance and high level of alertness in the area,” he added.

U.S. warns citizens to avoid Kenya-Somalia border over terror attacks

14 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

The United Sates has warned its citizens living in Kenya to avoid traveling to the border area between Somalia and Kenya because of threats by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, according to xinhuanet.com.

In a revised travel advisory issued on Friday, the U.S. State Department told Americans to avoid travel in the northeastern Kenyan counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, the coastal counties of Tana River and Lamu in their entirety, all areas north of Malindi in Kilifi County, and the Nairobi neighborhood of Eastleigh.

“The U.S. citizens should also be aware of potential terrorist threats and the high risk of crime throughout the country,” it said in its advisory which replaces that one issued in 2016.

Washington also advised its citizens to visit Old Town in the coastal city of Mombasa only at daylight hours and avoid using the Likoni Ferry due to safety concerns.

“Violent and sometimes fatal crimes, including armed carjackings, muggings, home invasions and burglaries and kidnappings can occur at anytime,” it said.

Analysts have warned that the warnings especially in the tourism resorts in the coastal region are a blow to Kenya’s already troubled tourist industry which relies on foreign visitor, many of whom combine safaris with beach holidays in Mombasa.

The East African nation relies heavily on the currency of foreigners that travel to see the wildlife and natural beauty of the land.

These terror attacks threaten the tourism business which the country so readily relies on, so by extension the economy is threatened too.

Terrorist targets have included Kenyan and foreign government sites, police stations and vehicles, hotels, public transportation and other infrastructure targets, nightclubs and bars, religious and academic institutions, and shopping areas.

On September 11, 2016, three masked women attacked a police station in Mombasa with knives and petrol bombs, wounding two Kenyan police officers.

In October 27, 2016, an assailant with a knife attacked a police officer guarding the U.S. Embassy compound. The assailant was however shot dead by the security officers.

According to Washington, terrorist attacks involving shootings, grenades, or other explosive devices resulted in 122 fatalities in 2016.

The bulk of these incidents occurred in Wajir, Garissa, Lamu and Mandera counties. However, it said potential terrorist threats remain in Kenya, including within the Nairobi area, along the coast, and within the northeastern region of the country.

U.S. confirms airstrike against Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia

13 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has confirmed that, in coordination with Somali, African Union forces and U.S. Advisors, it launched an airstrike against Al-Shabaab as part of counter-terrorism exercise on Jan. 7.

AFRICOM said in a statement received on Thursday that the “self-defence strik”‘ was conducted against an Al-Qaida-associated terrorist group in Gaduud, a town in north of Kismayo in southern Somalia.

“During a counter-terrorism operation to disrupt Al-Shabaab, the combined partner forces observed Al-Shabaab fighters threatening their safety and security,” Africom said.

AFRICOM said Washington conducted a self-defense strike to neutralize the threat but no enemy fighters were killed.

“The U.S. remains committed to our partners in eliminating terrorism and advancing security in the region,” it said.

African countries are particularly vulnerable to violent terrorism

13 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

Africa bears the brunt of lives lost, economies ruined, and relationships fractured by terrorism, like reported by weforum.org. It is the continent where al-Qaeda launched its war against the United States in 1998, by bombing the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; where Boko Haram kidnapped 276 Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014; and where 147 students were killed in their sleep at Kenya’s Garissa University in 2015.

While these attacks did garner the world’s attention, most people do not realize that, in the past five years alone, 33,000 people have died in terrorism-related violence in Africa. Violent extremism and groups espousing it are threatening to reverse Africa’s development gains not only in the near term, but also for decades to come.

African countries are particularly vulnerable to violent ideologues, owing to the prevalence of weak institutions and ungoverned territory where extremist groups can germinate. Add to this the mismanagement of ethnic and religious diversity, stir in a large and growing cohort of unemployed and digitally connected youth, and the continent offers ideal conditions for mayhem.

Emulating countries elsewhere, African governments have responded to violent extremism primarily by putting “hard” security first. But this strategy has not reduced extremist groups’ potency or limited their reach. In fact, there is evidence that an exclusively military response can be a waste of resources, or even do more harm than good. What is missing is a deeper examination of root causes, particularly underlying development challenges.

Some people claim that the connection between socioeconomic conditions and violent extremism is specious, because most poor and marginalized communities do not join terrorist groups. But this argument fails to address the relevant issue: poverty, social marginalization, and political disenfranchisement are the fertilizers extremist groups need to take root and grow. Around the world, policies and operational responses to violent extremism are largely informed by theory, rather than drawing on thorough empirical evidence of the personal motivations and structural factors that drive people to commit terrorist acts.

I recently visited Galkayo, in North Somalia, to interview captured al-Shabaab fighters as part of an ongoing United Nations Development Programme study of the roots of African extremism. What struck me was that, apart from their being imprisoned, these young men seemed entirely normal, and their individual journeys toward extremism were not particularly informed by religion.

Rather, what united the young al-Shabaab militants I spoke to was a shared experience of deprivation. They had all grown up surrounded by conflict, and none of them had ever been given a good reason to view the government as a positive force in their lives. When I asked whether they went to public school, most could not even fathom the idea of free education or health care. These children and young adults are by-products of a failed state and society; they have spent their entire lives in an environment that is ripe for terrorist recruitment and exploitation.

Just as tuberculosis infects a body already compromised by HIV, extremism thrives under the right conditions, such as those created by the conflict in Somalia, or the political fragility and social neglect in northeastern Nigeria, where many interviewees cited scarce access to both religious and secular education.

The UNDP’s primary research into extremists’ personal motivations – based on more than 350 interviews with formerly active violent extremists in prisons and transitional centers in Cameroon, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Uganda – is the most extensive project of its kind in Africa, if not globally.

Our preliminary results suggest that the ideology behind violent extremism is delivered with a flexible marketing strategy, whereby extremist groups tailor their message for potential recruits. For the unemployed or the poor, they offer paid jobs; for marginalized ethnic and religious minorities, they offer recourse through violence; and for the middle class, they offer an adventure, a sense of “purpose,” and an escape from mundanity. The ideology mutates to exploit its intended recruit’s vulnerabilities.

Our research, which will be completed in early 2017, aims to shed light on individual journeys to extremism, through the words and perspectives of people who have been involved in terrorist organizations in Africa. It will also provide communities, other researchers, and policymakers with empirical evidence on which to base their future interventions.

One thing we already know for certain is that poverty and underdevelopment can no longer be ignored if we are ever to combat violent extremism effectively. Addressing these issues, rather than just strengthening military and law-enforcement capacity, must be a high priority for any plausible strategy.

Political Boko Haram must be defeated in 2017 – North East Coalition Against Terrorism

12 Gennaio 2017 By Redazione Islamedianalysis

An anti-terrorism group, the North East Coalition Against Terrorism (NECAT) has said to stop the defeated Boko Haram terrorists from raising funds to finance recruitment of unsuspecting Nigerians to swell their already depleted ranks, security agencies must beam their search light on politicians and high ranking individuals who have shown sympathy towards the terrorists.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, NECAT National Co-ordinator, Yusuf Msheliza said going after those it described as politically exposed persons that have been proven to have links with terrorists especially those that were harbouring Boko Haram fugitives that are on the run is the right thing to do to prevent the group from regrouping.

He said though the fleeing terrorists have carried out surprise attacks, but Nigerians are aware that the army has won the war.

He said, “we are pleased to report that we are not in any way disappointed with the turn of events since that defeat first made headlines. The expected fallout from that defeat was that the remnants of the terror group would try staging surprise attacks even as they are on the run all in the effort to present a picture of not being defeated.

“We are not surprised at the development in the news about such attacks and we must say there are even fewer attacks than we anticipated, all thanks to the Nigerian Army for intelligence gathering that has been used to foil many of such plots.

He described the recent arrest of some individuals alleged to be harbouring some Boko Haram members as a “proactive decision”

He said, “We hail the Nigerian Army for arresting these politically exposed persons who aid the activities of terrorists in the country. Our earnest expectations is that they will soon be charged to court under anti-terror laws if found culpable.

He said though the army has so far been able to nab local government level politicians but from information available in the public space previously, the searchlight would have to beam on politicians at the state level, who had openly disclosed their association with Boko Haram in the past.

He however appealed to the security agencies that in going after these political Boko Haram members, no distinction should be made on account of past or present political affiliations, ethnic background or religious subscription.

According to him, “The paramount consideration is the safety and integrity of Nigeria. Such distinctions should not be extended to these key actors that have been involved in arms purchases, raising of funds to finance terrorism and recruitment of unsuspecting Nigerians to swell the rank of insurgents especially whenever they are decimated the Nigerian Army.

“We want to stress that it is important that these elements are dealt with now that the whole of the north east has been liberated because it is important to curb the activities of fleeing Boko Haram members who may contemplate regrouping.”

thebreakingtimes.com