A UK’s think tank
investigates the activities of Boko Haram sect and issues a warning for the
U.S.
A report was published in July, 2014, on the official website of Bow Group, which mainly releases the research of Boko Haram members. The UK’s think tank investigates the activities of Boko Haram sect and issues a warning for the U.S.
A report was published in July, 2014, on the official website of Bow Group, which mainly releases the research of Boko Haram members. The UK’s think tank investigates the activities of Boko Haram sect and issues a warning for the U.S.
Bow Group Chairman Ben
Harris-Quinney said:
“An early investigation
into the backers of Boko Haram and their links to the APC, followed by
potential sanctions designed to prevent Nigeria becoming a future safe-haven
for terrorists, and threat to UK citizens at home and abroad, therefore seems
an appropriate and important strategy to prevent future terrorist threats
before they take hold.”
The article is authorized
by the group’s renowned research analyst Jacob Zen who specializes in writing about
Boko Haram and Northern Nigeria. He warns the United States against “playing a
dangerous game.”.
Find the report below:
“Summary:
·
Boko Haram operates as Al-Qaeda’s representative in Nigeria and must be
challenged on a domestic, regional and international level.
·
The US government’s delay in designating Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist
Organisation (FTO) initially hampered international attempts to combat the
terror group’s overseas financial transactions—there have been over 3,000
deaths this year alone in Nigeria and Cameroon.
·
The US State Department should clarify the standards used to make the terror
designation and explain why Boko Haram did not receive the label under the
leadership of former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, despite traceable
evidence linking Boko Haram to Osama bin Laden.
·
There are concerns in the international community and Nigeria that the U.S. Democratic
Party or its advisers may be associating themselves with northern Nigerian
politicians, despite reported links to Boko Haram.
·
Any political pact between US officials and the APC carries risks – the US must
adopt a neutral approach to the Nigerian elections and political landscape.
·
An international investigation that can bring sanctions against political and
business leaders in Nigeria and abroad who are financing Boko Haram should be
commissioned immediately.
Recommendations:
1.
The U.S. government should clarify why it refused to label Boko Haram as an FTO
before November 2013 and outline the criteria and standards upon which it will
be used in the future.
2.
Former Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, and the U.S. Democratic Party, including
its consultants, should establish and maintain a position of neutrality in
advance of the Nigerian Presidential elections.
3.
International support and cooperation with the Nigerian government should be
enhanced. More support is needed to ensure early successes in the war on Boko
Haram are taken advantage of, and any chance of the terror group re-taking
strongholds in the country are avoided.
4.
An international investigation under the auspices and coordination of the US,
UK, France, Nigeria and other leading states must be called to examine Boko
Haram and its relationships with in-country political figures, businesses in
West Africa and abroad and international terrorist groups. The probe and its
conclusions should be neutral and objective and delivered well before the
presidential elections next year.
5.
The UK should take an active interest interest in the the situation by seeking
to formulate its own coherent policy on the matter and influence US policy
given Boko Haram’s links to Al Qaeda that could pose a potential bed for
terrorism in the UK. The new Foreign Secretary should treat this as a matter of
urgency.”
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