Only a few years after French troops broke up its desert stronghold and scattered its fighters into the dunes, Al Qaeda’s branch in West Africa has regrouped and extended its reach, storming into new territory across three nations.
The setting for its new attacks: fancy West African hotels where fighters can strike local elites and Westerners, many hundreds of miles from the militants’ former base in northern Mali. They have killed dozens of people in recent months, including sunbathers lounging at a seaside resort in Ivory Coast on Sunday, prompting the American military to call Al Qaeda’s West African affiliate one of the world’s most enduring Islamist terrorist groups.
Almost four years ago, the group, known as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, had reached its zenith, ruling over a remote stretch of northern Mali the size of Texas. But when it started creeping south toward the capital, Bamako, French troops rushed in, chasing the militants across the desert, where they were believed to have suffered catastrophic losses.
Read More- New York Times
Image courtesy of European Pressphoto Agency
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The economic and financial undercurrents in the underground economy that functions under the guise of fanatical righteousness…….well, somebody once said:” Its the economy,stupid”. Anywhere there are huge economic disparities,and widespread poverty the opportunities exist for the many headed snake to rise its ugly head…..though the battle would be swifter and the justice more severe, if the mainstream media didn’t always portray these shit bags as being champions in a righteous struggle against poverty and racism, instead of the ruthless criminal enterprises that pray upon the very people they claim to represent, that they are.
Additional articles for anyone interested are below. Given the current power vacuum and the economic distress that exists in these areas, is it a wonder that this continues as an issue in countries with high percentages of Muslims that want an answer and a better life? With no stable government, high poverty and low job prospects, there will continue to be a need that isn’t being fulfilled among the population. In my opinion, part of the issue is that young men are drawn to these groups because they are given a purpose, an organized life, goals for society, promises for betterment, food and shelter, family of sorts, etc. (Not in that order.) They are empowered. Until there exists some form of organised legitimate government, as well as economic development, there will continue to be a void that will be filled by radicals. Just my opinion.
The following links the current situation to the power vacuum in Libya.
qz.com/596720/the-burkina-faso-attack-shows-how-al-qaeda-is-exploiting-weak-governments-in-west-africa
www.cnn.com/2016/01/16/world/burkina-faso-attack-al-qaeda
For some added background, multipart series from Global Post 2012/2013.
www.globalpost.com/series/depth-series-al-qaeda-africa-somalia-nigeria-mali-al-shabaab-boko-haram-aqim