Jihadists Targetting Africa
By Douglas Farah
A recent article in Sada al-Jihad (Echo of Jihad), an on-line magazine supporting global jihad, outlines al Qaeda's growing interest in exanding into sub-Saharan Africa. The Project for the Research of Islamic Movements (PRISM) translated some of the June 2006 article by Abu Azzam al-Ansari, titled "Al Qaeda Moving to Africa," and published in the magazine's June issue, the seventh time the magazine has appeared.
The author clearly states the advantages Africa offers global mujahadeen in their struggle. Among the primary ones named are:
1) The broad weakness of the governments and corruption, making it easier to operate in Africa than "in other countries which have effective security, intelligence and military capacities;
2) The number of people with significant combat experience that can be recruited there; a large Muslim community;
3) The poverty and social conditions "will enable the mujahadeen to provide some finance and welfare, thus, posting there some of their influential operatives;
4) The availability of cheap weapons in many parts of the continent;
5) The richness of Africa in oil and raw materials. (Diamonds, anyone?)
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