International Journal on Criminology Volume 7, Number 2, Spring 2020 | Page 35

International Journal on Criminology
Al Shabab, as shown in Table 1, is an example of group restructuring. When
the group began to lose its power because of internal divisions and self-inflicted
wounds, the group’s leader, Ahmad Godane, declared loyalty to AQ. Godane announced
a formal merger with AQ 96 and replaced Al Shabab commanders with
AQ commanders. The shake-up caused a schism and strife within the group. 97
Godane, who feared an outbreak of internecine conflict, began to issue death warrants
for his rivals. Godane’s strategic move helped him to get support from AQ
and prevent a possible internal conflict.
As shown in Table 2, the seven jihadist groups in East Asia lean toward and
have pledged allegiance to ISIS. Five of those groups are located in the Philippines,
while the other two groups are located in Indonesia. ISIS’s popularity in Syria and
Iraq in 2014 and 2015 was one of the reasons that jihadist groups formed country
franchises of the larger organization (i.e., ISIS). One organization each in Egypt,
India-Kashmir, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Sahel, and Somalia pledged allegiance to ISIS,
as did two organizations in Tunisia.
Boko Haram in Nigeria is an example of fragmentation and restructuring. In
2009, the Nigerian military raided Boko Haram hideouts and killed more than 700
group members, including the group leader, Mohammad Yusuf. Abubakar Shekau
became the new leader in 2010, restructured the group, and swore loyalty to AQ. 98
In subsequent years, Shekau engaged in brutal attacks and kidnappings. He targeted
law enforcement units and political leaders in 2011, increased the level of
violence, and targeted markets, churches, and fellow Muslims in 2012. Incensed
with Shekau’s targeting of Muslims, some Boko Haram commanders parted ways
with the organization and formed Ansaru in 2012. 99 Shekau’s strategy continued
unabated through 2014, giving Boko Haram the dubious distinction of being one of
the most violent organizations in the world. According to an October 2014 report
in the publication Global Security, at least 11,000 people lost their lives as a result of
Boko Haram attacks. 100 Boko Haram found itself under pressure from the Nigerian
military in 2015, making it difficult for the organization to survive intact. It was
time, Shekau apparently reasoned, to declare the group’s loyalty to ISIS and did so
in 2015. 101 Weakened by the Nigerian military raids, Boko Haram expected to get
support from ISIS. That support, however, was not forthcoming. In 2016, Boko
Haram fractured, and a number of senior leaders left the organization and con-
96 K. Menkhaus, “Al-Shabab’s Capabilities Post-Westgate By,” CNT Sentinel 7, no. 2 (Special Issue,
February 2014): 4–8, https://ctc.usma.edu/app/uploads/2014/02/CTCSentinel-Vol7Iss2.pdf.
97 J. White, Terrorism and Homeland Security (Boston: Cengage Learning, 2018), 170.
98 White, 166.
99 White, 166–167.
100 “Islamic State West Africa Province,” Global Security, https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/wor
ld/para/boko-haram.htm.
101 “Facing the Challenge of the Islamic State in West Africa Province,” Crisis Group, https://www.cri
sisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/nigeria/273-facing-challenge-islamic-state-west-africa-province.
26