Posted on Feb 24, 2020
Isis and al-Qaeda join forces in West Africa
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Groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, at war with each other in the Middle East, are working together to take control of territory across a vast stretch of West Africa, US and local officials say, sparking fears the regional threat could grow into a global crisis.
Fighters appear to be coordinating attacks and carving out mutually agreed-upon areas of influence in the Sahel, a strip of land south of the Sahara desert. The rural territory at risk is so large it could “fit multiple Afghanistans and Iraqs,” said brigade general Dagvin Anderson, head of the US military’s Special Operations arm in Africa.
Fighters appear to be coordinating attacks and carving out mutually agreed-upon areas of influence in the Sahel, a strip of land south of the Sahara desert. The rural territory at risk is so large it could “fit multiple Afghanistans and Iraqs,” said brigade general Dagvin Anderson, head of the US military’s Special Operations arm in Africa.
Isis and al-Qaeda join forces in West Africa
Posted from independent.co.uk
ISIS
Al Qaeda
Terrorism
Africa
Posted 4 y ago
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Once upon a time, a certain Master Sergeant (then younger) had missions out there.
There is really not much to be had out there, where survival is not something one can take for granted much less organizing for expansion.
What is lucrative for them is trafficking in people, guns, and to a lesser extent, narcotics. This is more of a turf division between gangs than an actual alliance.
There is really not much to be had out there, where survival is not something one can take for granted much less organizing for expansion.
What is lucrative for them is trafficking in people, guns, and to a lesser extent, narcotics. This is more of a turf division between gangs than an actual alliance.
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MAJ Matthew Arnold
True. I did a little advising in Niger and Burkina-Faso. Once you leave the river valley there is nothing, it's a "moon-scape". They can have it.
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I am no Africa expert, but will opine many Africans question the legitimacy of their governments. One example is the insurgency in Nigeria. The government and corporations conducted off shore drilling in Muslim areas of the country. None of the oil revenues went to the local people. The process of extracting oil polluted the waters and land, thereby rendering the fishing and farming impossible. I can see why they want to fight, and I can see why they want support from external groups.
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