Algeria Confirms Boko Haram’s Ties To Al Qaeda
Nigeria to attend anti-terrorists’ summit
From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Algerian Deputy Foreign Minister has said intelligence reports showed there is coordination between Boko Haram and the Algerian-based North African branch of al Qaeda.
Boko Haram has killed dozens of people. Western security experts said any link-up with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) could make it a more potent threat, especially to Nigeria’s energy sector.
“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. It tallies with the view of some in the Nigerian military, who said Boko Haram was increasingly linking up with global jihadist movements.
From ISAAC ANUMIHE, Abuja
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Algerian Deputy Foreign Minister has said intelligence reports showed there is coordination between Boko Haram and the Algerian-based North African branch of al Qaeda.
Boko Haram has killed dozens of people. Western security experts said any link-up with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) could make it a more potent threat, especially to Nigeria’s energy sector.
“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. It tallies with the view of some in the Nigerian military, who said Boko Haram was increasingly linking up with global jihadist movements.
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