Al-Qaeda Sees Its Chance In West Africa, And Takes It

The overthrow of former Libyan President Muammar
Ghaddafi has seen a rise in Islamic extremism spread throughout West
Africa ? and with it, an increasing unwillingness on the part of the
international community to confront just how far Al-Qaeda?s tentacles
have reached. It started with the Benghazi attack
that was committed by an Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb affiliate,
Ansar al-Shariah. After the Libyan revolution, weapons were smuggled
into Mali in order to fuel the Tuareg rebellion,?which quickly helped AQIM and Ansar al-Dine gain control of the north of the country.

The actions of Ansar al-Dine led to a French-led offensive
in order to oust Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups from the country
and reestablish security. This operation has been generally successful
and Malian troops recently reestablished their presence within the north of the country. While it is true that Al-Qaeda and its affiliates have been dispelled from Mali, they are far from gone.

Amidst the French offensive, logistical support was given by the
United States in the form of supplies and drone support. In order to do
this the United States government had established a drone base within neighboring Niger
as a base of operations. This fact has become common knowledge with
AQIM and has not been forgotten. Once the French offensive?began,
members of AQIM and its affiliates crossed the border into neighboring
countries such as Cameroon and Niger.?

Their presence in these countries had been subtle up until recently,
but it appears that AQIM has left Mali only to establish camp in
neighboring Niger.
The extremists committed a series of suicide attacks at the military
base in Agadez as well as a uranium enrichment plant in Arlit. To make
the security situation worse, extremists led an attack upon a Nigeran
jail that has resulted in some of the country?s most dangerous inmates
going free. The attacks have been jointly claimed by the Movement for
Unity and?Jihad in West Africa, an AQIM affiliate, as well as a group
known?as ?Those Who Sign In Blood,? run by Mokhtar Belmokhtar who was
responsible for the attack on an Algerian gas plant earlier this year.?

Niger, with its extremely porous borders and spot at the bottom of the UN?s Human Development Index, is in no position to be able to expel the extremists. Niger is currently dealing with refugees from Mali as well as refugees from Nigeria?s offensive
against the extremist group Boko Haram.?The United Nations is an option
to deal with the country?s refugee problem, yet it may not be a
productive one.?

The recent Islamist uprisings throughout West Africa have shown the
dangers of failed states. Failed states are notorious for having porous
borders, which have allowed global organizations such as Al-Qaeda to
enjoy freedom of movement as well as the ability to fund and supply
themselves and their affiliates. Recent revelations from Mali?s Timbuktu library have shown how AQIM has utilized the opportunities globalization has given them in order to spread their ideas worldwide.

The world is continuing to make the same mistakes over and over again
in the War on Terror. Al-Qaeda is an organization that is not tied to a
piece of land. They can and have established themselves in many places
throughout the world. The message of Al-Qaeda does not stop at a border
but rather can influence people in Afghanistan, Nigeria, or even Spain.
If the world is going to stop the substantial spread of terrorism than
it must realize this fact.?

Source: http://urbantimes.co/2013/07/al-qaeda-sees-its-chance-in-west-africa-and-takes-it/

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