Al Qaeda Africa New Affiliates Al Shabaab and Boko Haram are Part of the Threat to Africa Magnificent 5 and Hub to other Continents

Al Qaeda, The Shadow Where Crime Becomes Ideology

Al Qaeda projects itself as an organization fighting for the greater good. In reality, it is nothing more than a name that different groups (can) hide behind and attach itself to the Al Qaeda 'brand' or rather, its PR infrastructure.

Not only is Al Qaeda very good at PR, but they also piggyback off of other movements to gain attention and new members.

It does not take a brilliant mind to think of ways this system can be exploited. Organizations that have enemies and competitors that are extremely determined. If any of those enemies were to attack their competitor they would not have any good way of doing that without outing themselves as the culprit.

This is where Al Qaeda comes in. Thus, diverting blame from themselves and onto, largely, unsuspecting groups of people who flock to the Al Qaeda 'ideals'. These people, or scapegoats rather, are the ones that read about (these Al Qaeda) 'attacks' and decide to join in by connecting to their network and launching attacks on Al Qaeda targets. They are the ones who are eventually caught, leaving the real and more skilled/intelligent perpetrators in the dark behind the Al Qaeda shadow where crime becomes ideology!

This then leaves the imagination to wander. Was an attack the work of a competitor? Foreign Intelligence Service? Terror group? Or was it really just a group that has been working under the Al Qaeda name in the past?

To answer this question will take someone more in the know.

Ultrascan-AGI HUMINT
'in the know'

Ultrascan invests significant time and (AML) resources to capture concepts, costs, and operating expenses for criminal networks with rhizomatic dynamics, where there is no unity or centralized structure, social, ideological, and criminal cross border networks of anonymous perpetrators that share knowledge and resources.

Ultrascan has through its HUMINT network of 'feet in the street' access to reliable primary sources, individuals that support the development of (potential) affiliates of Al Qaeda for 'good use', but also still unknown groups that have been there for more than a decade as kind of a steering committee that induces the Al Qaeda Value Pyramid for affiliates. This access was developed to create a high level of trust in face-to-face meetings

Prelude to civil war in Nigeria

(2009) The crisis arising from President Yar'Adua's absence has brought to the fore the political battle over the delicate power balancing act in Nigeria.

The resurgent violence In Nigeria's oil region Is continuing despite the Installation of a Christian Niger Delta Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, as acting President.

Sectarian violence in the central region of Nigeria has left thousands dead over the past decade. The latest outbreak came despite the Nigerian government's efforts to quell religious extremism in the West African country.

Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazzau has alerted the nation of overt and covert moves by military adventurists to Interfere In the politics of the country. Kwara state governor, Alhaji Bukola Sarakl 'appealed' to the National Assembly regarding President Yar'adua's absence to consider Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as acting president of the country.

A successful civilian coup during mounting sectarian tension and systematic extrajudicial killings by security forces in a country plagued by corruption and 419 frauds so endemic it is state policy.

During the violence in Jos, Intelligence sources reported that a type of militias had joined In the clashes and most of them came from across the borders.

Al Qaida in Africa and Nigeria

(2007) The above-mentioned situation as well as the leading role that Nigeria plays in the region has increased the focus of the AI Qaida network on Nigeria.

Poverty, bad living conditions, and a lack of proper education are traditionally ecosystems where religious extremism is a fast-growing element.

Although not often recognized, Africa is a key continent for The AI Qaida terror network. In the past, we have observed several terror attacks in African countries as well as religion-related and inspired conflicts.

The CIA and European Intelligence Agencies have mentioned Africa as a large center of "recruitment" for the AI Qaida terror network.

(2009) Following an outbreak of sectarian violence the leader of North Africa's AI Qaida branch offered training and weapons to Nigeria's Muslims to fight the Christians there, Abdelmalek Droukdel, leader of AI Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), in a statement posted on an Islamic Web site, accused the Nigeria's Christians of killing hundreds of Muslims in a 'Crusader war'.

Droukdel promised to train Muslim youths, and supply them with weapons and equipment. 'We are ready to train your sons on using weapons, support them with men, weapons, ammunition, and equipment to enable them to defend themselves,' he said, exhorting Nigerians to 'push your sons into the fields of jihad to become the fighting vanguard in defense of the Muslims' blood and honor.'

(2009) A surge in attacks on security and anti-terror specialists was expected to continue in 2010. In this aspect the threat level for Nigeria was Elevated.

Abdelmalek Droukdel, leader of AI Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

Layers of funding and support of Al Qaeda's new affiliates in Africa

Financiers of Al Qaeda, as in connections that go back to the 90s and developed into the past decade. Informal relationships and human networks, one of the most important of which was formed around bin Laden in the 1980s and 1990s, create the underlying rhizomatic dynamics that bridge the formal structures of the network and induce the Al Qaeda Value Pyramid on three levels. The organization is seen as currently led by Ayman al Zawahiri.

1. Investigations (Ultrascan-AGI, 2007-2013) link, the initial funding for the new organizations and the support for more complex (cross-continent) attacks by Al Qaeda's new affiliates in Africa (2008), with persons currently and formerly associated with the Khorasan group, the Al Haramain Foundation and its founder and 'former' leader Aqeel Al-Aqeel.

2. The African connections are 'key players in Africa's infrastructure, finance, and security. The younger generations of Africa's upper class, are being groomed for a political office and are often considered 'presidential material'.

3. Cross-border crime syndicates in the country and Diaspora, large criminal networks with fast numbers of perpetrators around the world supporting finance, transport, distribution, and money laundering. Cross-border crime with a Low Probability of Detection (LPD) specialised in Cyber Crime Advance Fee Fraud.

Synergy between Crime and Ideology in the Diaspora

Between 2003 and 2007 there was evidence of a terrorist connection 'in the slipstream' of 419 Advance Fee Fraud networks, supporting attacks. In 2008 and 2009 there was evidence linking 419 AFF networks to funding the development of extremist organizations in east, central, and west Africa and attacks.

(2008, 2009) Profits from 419 AFF organizations financed arms deals and its cross-border crime networks were used to support trafficking.

(2009, 2010) Ultrascan-HUMINT received regular reports about extremist infiltrations in southern Nigerian and European mosques, as well as Nigerian criminals in the Diaspora who converted to Islam, targeting Muslim communities for Advance Fee Fraud.

(2011, 2012, 2013) The 419unit of Ultrascan-AGI investigated several Advance Fee Fraud scams specifically Romance Fraud and Sextortion Scams that involved female and male members of US dating sites (e.g. Match.com) who were scammed from southern Nigeria by supporters of Boko Haram that pretended to be 'lovers'.

Unwary of the fact that they were funding terrorism, these US victims paid amounts varying between $7,300 and $57,000 to money launderers and recruiters of Boko Haram who reside in the UK. Remarkable is that these recruiters and sponsors for Boko Haram but also the victims of fraud were university educated, often MDs.

419 AFF fraud is shifting from a criminal-inspired activity into an ideology-driven terror funding mechanism for African-based terror organizations and their affiliates in Europe.

Although it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of (Nigerian) 419 fraud, it is a fact that it can easily be compared with a GDP of a medium-sized country.

(2012, 2013) At the moment The Cyber Crime 419 Advance Fee Fraud (e.g. Romance scams, Sextortion and Hajj Fraud) a Low Probability of Detection crime, is the primary funding for most of the African-based terror groups in Somalia, Nigeria, central African and East African communities.

The three action layers of Al Qaeda's new affiliates

Al Qaeda's GSI doctrine - Generic, Specific, International

Phase I Generic: Domestic 'guerrilla marketing' by killing indiscriminate and at random to effectively establish presence and fear.

Phase II Specific: Attack Specific Regional targets linked to the mission and vision, in case of Boko Haram 'all western influence is forbidden'.

Phase III International: Attacks in Europe/UK and other International regions where criminal support and specific targets have presence.

Phased experience leads to affiliation

New or (re-)acquired groups like Al Shabaab in 2010 and Boko Haram in 2009 start off as a mix of Jihadi, criminals and traitors that could not go for training and scrutiny outside Africa and are good enough for Phase-I to establish a presence and fear, but not (yet) worthy of Al Qaeda acknowledgment as an affiliate.

Before Al Qaeda acknowledges a group, it has similar global and regional considerations as states have before designating a group as Foreign Terrorist Organization.

(2011, 2012) For new or re-acquired insurgencies it takes time, experience, and cleansing of bad habits and bad recruits, for Al Qaeda to acknowledge and enable them without being betrayed or risking that such group becomes a stain on its brand or is wiped out completely.

(2012, 2013) Both Boko Haram and Al Shabaab have gone through those processes and increased Jihadist attacks in Africa indicate (Phase II) increased strength of these "Al Qaeda affiliates".

Because of the three-level structure and rhizomatic dynamics Al Shabaab and Boko Haram can maintain a capacity to shape events, keep the initiative, increase the level of Shock and Awe along the time line and achieve an asymmetric edge.

(2011-2013) Al Qaeda purged and took control of Al Shabaab and Boko Haram. Today both are high-value terror organizations with regional and international capabilities and must be considered the most advanced, well-prepared, disciplined, and solid financed terror organizations in 50 years. Very effective!

Three goals of Al Qaeda's new affiliates in Africa

Domestic the immediate goal is to replace secular (Christian-led) governments with a Muslim leadership that promotes the sharia in the greater Khalifat.

Regional the long-term goal to establish Sharia-based theocracies in (large parts of) Africa.

International new affiliates align themselves with the Al Qaeda Value Pyramid. And to be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) which confirms its enemies are not only local or regional but international, the common strategic move is, not recognizing the borders of Sykes-Picot nor the rulers whom colonialism put in place and declaring open hostility to America, Britain, Israel, and 'Crusader Christians'.

Underwear bomber not the only Al Qaeda Kryptonite inside Africa's upper-class family's

The African connections are not 'the usual suspects' but 'key players' in Africa's infrastructure, finance, and security.

However, starting 2008 Intelligence surveillance sources report suspect and criminal activities that reveal the purpose of some of the younger generations of Africa's upper class.

Criminal activities (not limited to):

- (July 2008) Money laundering between Europe and South Africa,

- forgery of official government documents,

- Nigerian 419 advance fee fraud, scamming business people around the globe via the Nigerian Diaspora,

- trade in airline tickets paid for with organized credit card fraud in the Somali Diaspora,

- (July 2008) Drugs trafficking from Mexico to Nigeria, Morocco, Spain/Europe, and South Africa,

- assisted by a Sheikh in the UAE, the arms trade with Al Shabaab and the Muslim Janjaweed rebel group from Sudan,

- (August 2008) Human trafficking and high-end prostitution of fashion models.

Suspect activities (not limited to):

- (June 2008) secret meetings with several Somali and Sudanese imams of Al-Furqan Mosques/centers in Europe. Not knowing that the mosques and imams were under permanent surveillance of the intelligence services due to suspicion of funding of Al Shabaab in Somalia and Sudan,

- receiving unusual money transfers with a Somali origin,

- the suspicion is that suspects are until this day involved in arms trade with Al Shabaab and the Muslim Janjaweed rebel group from Sudan.

Further Intelligence surveillance started in 2009 was instigated by intercepted communications in July 2009 and the suspicious events and activities during the summer of 2008.

ISIS Al Qaeda's Targets 'Magnificent 5' In Eastern Africa

Long term, Al Qaeda has a dualistic and holistic strategy with the development and deployment of instruments like Boko Haram and Al Shabaab, which are currently its finest in Africa. It introduced best practices and cost efficiency for international attacks by combining services of independent providers and to attain its goals it trades support, resources, or action with other cross-border criminal organizations.

The opponents of Al Qaeda African affiliates are preferably Western ones from countries that they fight in their homeland. Those opponents are represented by the UN, ADB, World Bank, IFC, and foreign investors in general, with a significant financial and ex-pat presence in Africa's 'Magnificent 5'

Al Qaeda's global strategy Value Pyramid bridges continents with 'Motivation by events'. Al Qaeda wants to cultivate support in 'for example' Brazil and South Korea where Muslims are a small 'peaceful' minority and the security services do not expect a threat on their soil, it attacks the interests and ex-pats from those countries to trigger country wide reactions about and among 'peaceful' Muslims. With side effects more people 'who seek to understand' flock to the religion and a growing support for extremists.

Uganda is, because of its connections with the US under the Bush administration, the leading country in Africa's 'Magnificent 5'; Uganda, Kenya. Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.

Short-term 'the Magnificent 5' countries are targeted by Al Qaeda affiliates but also considered hubs to expedite Al Qaeda's long-term global strategy on other continents.

October 2011, Ultrascan-HUMINT received reports that instigated a surveillance program during 2012/2013. The surveillance recorded preparations for attacks in 'the Magnificent 5' countries.

October 2013, the preparations for attacks in Rwanda and Uganda, show a similar Value Pyramid that is befitting the timeline of the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Note: (2009) Al Haramain has a growing presence in the 'Magnificent 5 countries, not only in Kenya's, Garissa and Dadaab!

2020 Al Qaeda and ISIS

Al Qaeda 2020 - Alert!

Al Qaeda has silently invested significantly into building an ideological base in weak African and Asian communities.

Building a social structure and capacity for impoverished communities with free education, medical and food aid.

Its support and presence trough affiliates in Africa and Asia has since 2009 quadrupled. Its main targets still are Africa's 'Magnificent 5' ; Uganda, Kenya. Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi

ISIS 2020 - Alert!

The war against the ISIS caliphate has degraded ISIS's possibilities to keep territory in Syria and Iraq.

When terror groups are forced out and no longer fight for territory, that frees resources to expand and widen their scope on the globe.

ISIS is expanding its fighting and training in Africa and Asia

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