African intelligence: terror groups in Africa linked to Islamic State

By Robert Nagila
Saturday, August 30, 2014

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There is growing evidence of links between terrorist militant groups in Africa, Syria and Iraq. African intelligence officials are showing the need to swap intelligence and work together across borders to combat the rising terror threats.

Recent videos released by the Islamic State again proved to be part of its high-profile campaign to establish a caliphate in Syria and Iraq. The Islamist militant group in Nigeria, Boko Haram, also recently released a video describing how it will set up a caliphate in Nigeria.

Boko Haram has already shown support for IS, and experts believe that Boko Haram has drawn inspiration from it.

At a meeting this week in Nairobi, African intelligence chiefs noted that African fighters are among the ranks of Al Nusra. The Syrian group is affiliated with Al Qaeda, and also imprisoned American journalist Peter Theo Curtis for two years.

African intelligence also suggests that groups in western Africa such as Boko Haram and AQIM have been reaching out to other terror groups such as Somalia’s Al-Shabaab.

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