IS shadow spreading to African states

By John Lagat Source:Global Times Published: 2014-10-7 19:08:02

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT



Africa is turning out to be the new stage in the fight against terrorism, following the beheading of a French tourist captured by a group linked with the Islamic State (IS).

Hervé Gourdel was recently abducted in Algeria by a terrorist group, known as Jund al-Khilafah. The group issued a statement after his abduction, saying that it was following the guidance of the Islamic State (IS), which has called on its sympathizers to strike at Westerners wherever they can.

The killing of Gourdel signals that the IS practice of executing Western captives for propaganda purposes is now spreading into Africa. Numerous smaller factions in the Middle East and in Africa have now pledged allegiance to the group.

Even with no financial backing from the Middle East, Islamic extremism has found Africa a fertile ground to flourish. Between 2013 and 2014, for instance, Kenya, Somalia, Algeria, Mali, Nigeria and Tunisia saw the bloodiest terrorist actions that the continent has ever seen.

Africa's Islamists are able to take advantage of the fact that many of the continent's countries have leaky borders, severe corruption, as well as ill-trained and poorly equipped armies.

The attacks pose new and intricate challenges. The radical terrorist groups like the IS, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab are continually wreaking havoc in Africa and the Middle East, showing superior skill at forming alliances and manipulating insurgencies.

These organizations are tough for African states to tackle because their operations are dynamic; they continually develop their sources of financing, arms and recruits. They are well connected with the trafficking of people, poaching of wildlife and booming drug trades that provide a steady source of income. This is one of the main ways terrorist groups in Mali have been able to access rifles and rockets from unstable Libya.

The biggest test today is that these terrorist groups, too, are increasingly teaming up across borders and regions. Their atrocious activities have been exacerbated by vulnerabilities in some African nations, including institutions with limited capacity to deal with the threat, and porous borders that allow arms, explosives, funds and people to move unchecked. Increasing poverty and unemployment have intensified it.

How should Africa break this vicious cycle that threatens its future? This arduous task should be based on three premises: capacity, prevention and coordination.

African countries lack law enforcement capabilities. Stronger policing and intelligence, and tighter cooperation with prosecutors, defense counsel and judges are needed to develop an effective criminal justice tactic.

Lessons could be drawn from Indonesia where the most powerful tools in the battle against terrorism are actual prosecutions and convictions, some based on joint investigations with other nations. Such actions require effective laws. Resources must also be devoted to regional training facilities in Africa which strengthen relations and intelligence sharing among authorities.

For instance, drawing on the experience of the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation, Australia is currently supporting the creation of the Eastern African Regional Counter Terrorism Centre to effectively bring terrorists to justice.

Besides getting external support, Africa is itself taking the initiative to deal with terrorism. The Rabat conference on border control cooperation in March identified many African states in need of customs training, technology to track goods and people, and sturdier networks for better coordination across borders.

The international community needs to step in and help Africa in the fight against extremism. Governments must actively counter the negative drumbeat of terrorist messaging and close opportunities for narratives of injustice or exclusion to resonate and radicalize as is happening in Mombasa, the coastal town in Kenya.

This can be done by promoting tolerance and dialogue between different religions and cultures, opening up opportunities, especially among the youth, for economic advancement through provision of access to education, and strengthening governance, democracy and the rule of law.

Responding to the magnitude and complexity of the challenge in Africa demands greater coordination, particularly through the African Union and at the international level. Other sources of expertise, like the Global Counterterrorism Forum, which has developed good practices in criminal justice, kidnapping and prisons, should also be fully exploited.

It is important for the UN to be proactive in its approach on the fight against terrorism in Africa. It is sickening that many times, its focus remains locked on peacekeeping and stabilization efforts within individual countries, when this threat, as we've seen, often goes far beyond national borders.

The author is a journalist and a security analyst in East Africa. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

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