Lecture 10 - ISIS and International Terrorism (Part 2) International Organised Crime Flashcards
Some Islamic terrorist groups…
Isamic state: ISIS, 10-20000 members
Al-Queada: 100-1000
Nusra Front: 5,000
Boko Haram: In the thousands
Al Shabaab: 7,9000
Taliban: 36,000
Pakistani Taliban: 10-20000
Haqqani Network: 10,000
Mali Conflict:
The Islamist rebels
Armed conflicts that started from January 2012 between the northern and southern parts of Mali in Africa
On 16 January 2012, several insurgent groups began fighting a campaign against the Malian government for independence or greater autonomy for northern Mali
The Islamist rebels: Its objective is to impose Islamic law across Mali and its full name in Arabic is Harakat Ansar al-Dine, which translates as “movement of defenders of the faith”.
Al Qaeda in North Africa / Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM/AQMI)
Northern Mali Conflict (January 2012 – June 2013)
Azawad: region in northern Mali
timeline of events:
January 2012: Tuareg people initially supported by Islamist groups seeking to impose the Sharia law
March 2012: coup against President Touré [because of his mismanagement of the rebellion] by the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State
April 2012: Azawad seized by the rebels Islamists start to implement Sharia law / fight against MNLA
July 2012: MNLA loses control of Azawad
January 2013: Gov’t asks for foreign military aid; France deploys troops and intervenes against the Islamists international coalition (African Union states) re-takes territory held by the Islamists
18 June 2013: peace deal between the gov’t and the Tuareg rebels
After peace deal…
MINUSMA
(peacekeeping force - United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali); deployed in June 2013
26 September 2013: the Tuareg pull out of the truce agreement because government forces opened fire on unarmed protesters Treated as a “declaration of war” by the MNLA
February 2014: France & Germany send forces to help train Mali troops = first deployment of EU forces in Africa
19 February 2015: Peace deal signed in Algeria; sporadic fighting continues; French troops due for withdrawal
Mali depends on foreign/humanitarian aid for survival (poverty / food crisis)
During the war
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
Currently the most successful (dangerous) branch of Al Qaeda
Focuses on drug trafficking and abductions for ransom
Islamists active in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, Niger, Chad, Mauritania)
NIGERIA
Boko Haram / Islamic State in West Africa
Membership: 7-10,000 fighters
Initially linked to Al Qaeda – now affiliated with ISIS
April 2014: abducted 276 schoolgirls
KENYA – Al-Shabaab
21 September 2013:
Westgate Shopping Mall attack
67 dead, 175 wounded
2 April 2015:
Garissa University College attack
147 dead, 79 wounded
