The top US military commander for Africa has warned that AlQaeda affiliates are seeking to strengthen ties across the continent. GeneralCarter Ham, commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), described Nigeria'sBoko Haram, Somalia's Al Shabaab and the Saharan Al Qaeda in the Islamic Magrebas "dangerous and worrisome" and added that there were signs thegroups are trying to coordinate their activities.
"What really concerns me is the indications that thethree organisations are seeking to coordinate and synchronise their efforts.That is a real problem for us and for African security in general," hetold the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Al Shabaab, anIslamist insurgent group battling the Somali government and its African Uniondefenders, formally declared its allegiance to Al Qaeda earlier this year. Al-Qaedain the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) hijacked a Tuareg rebellion in northern Malicarving out a fiefdom that Ham described "a safe haven" for the groupthat has made its name ” and its money ” with a string of kidnappings offoreigners.
Ham said the links between Boko Haram and AQIM are ofgreatest concern. "Most notably I would say that the linkages between AQIMand Boko Haram are probably the most worrisome in terms of the indications wehave that they are likely sharing funds, training and explosive materials thatcan be quite dangerous," he said. The two groups operate in closeproximity to each other in West Africa while Al Shabaab is on the other side ofthe continent.
The head of the British Security Service, known as MI5, gavea rare speech in which he raised similar concerns. "Al Qaeda affiliates inYemen, Somalia and the Sahel have become more dangerous as Al Qaeda in Pakistanhas declined and we see increasing levels of cooperation between Al Qaedagroups in various parts of the world," said Jonathan Evans.
Nevertheless, all this talk from Western security officialsof an Al Qaeda network spreading across Africa has been seen by some asself-serving and has been greeted with some skepticism partly thanks to thelack of actual evidence cited.
