Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism report for August 2021

Mahmoud al-Batakoushi

The activity of terrorist groups intensified during the month of August 2021, as terrorist organizations launched about 50 terrorist operations, which resulted in the killing of about 460 people and the injury of more than 120 others, in addition to the kidnapping of 30 civilians and military personnel, surpassing the month of July 2021, which recorded 49 terrorist operations that resulted in the killing of about 200 people and the injury of more than 160 others, in addition to the kidnapping of 149 civilians and military personnel.

According to the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism, August was considered one of the deadliest months since the beginning of this year. The Somali Al-Shabaab movement was the most active during August, as it carried out 15 terrorist attacks in Somalia and three in Kenya.

Al-Shabaab attacks have taken two basic patterns: armed confrontations and the detonation of explosive devices, as well as assassinations and suicide bombings, which are a proactive step for armed confrontations. The terrorist movement’s operations resulted in the killing and wounding of 100 people in order to achieve gains on the ground on a daily basis, which portends its success in imposing its agendas and making its political, social and religious goals a reality on the Somali people, especially its goal of gaining power similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan. The biggest evidence of this is the movement’s obstruction of the Somali elections through its intensified terrorist operations and the recent warning published by the movement on its media platforms through its spokesperson, where he issued a warning to the Somalis against dealing with those he described as infidels and participating in the elections, stressing that the movement’s targeting of tribal elders was due to their participation in the formation of the previous government.

The Al-Azhar Observatory pointed to the danger of cyber terrorism, which terrorist groups use as an easy and quick tool to spread their extremist ideas in order to influence minds and direct them towards destructive ideological trends. They succeeded in influencing a large number of young people, including the young man who carried out a terrorist attack near the French embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Investigations showed that this young man was influenced by the ideas of ISIS and Al-Shabaab through social networking sites. This attack threatens ISIS’s expansion in eastern Africa, especially after the recent escalation of its attacks in Mozambique.

This prompted Mozambique to conclude joint cooperation with neighboring countries, including the joint cooperation between Mozambique and Rwanda to eliminate terrorism, which is a real, serious and effective step within the measures to combat terrorism and eradicate it from its roots.

As for Boko Haram, it is facing a fierce war for survival, especially in light of the presence of ISIS, which is steadily controlling the Boko Haram factions and even killing those who resist or refuse to pledge allegiance to them. This led to a rise in the mass exodus of Boko Haram elements and their declaration of surrender to the Nigerian government in light of the loss of of the group’s ability to finance, in addition to the strategy followed by the countries of the region in dealing with the group’s elements who surrender themselves to the security forces in those countries. In this context, security sources reported that nearly 6,000 Boko Haram fighters and their families have surrendered to the Nigerian government in the past few weeks.

As for Niger, which is largely under the control of ISIS, it has not witnessed any change in the number of terrorist operations, given that the war for survival is burning in Nigeria more than in Niger. Therefore, Niger witnessed five operations that killed nearly 100 people and injured dozens. On the other hand, the Nigerien forces have confronted the terrorists with all force and firmness. The security operations and armed confrontations resulted in the killing of about 150 terrorist elements.

As for Cameroon and Chad, they witnessed two terrorist operations that resulted in the kidnapping of 15 people in Cameroon, and the killing of 25 people and the injury of dozens in Chad.

In Mali, terrorist activity declined during August, as the country witnessed four terrorist attacks that killed about 65 and wounded more than 35 others.

As for Burkina Faso, it witnessed a steady rise in terrorist operations, with ten terrorist operations killing more than 140 people. Burkina Faso has become the most affected African country in terms of the number of deaths, and security operations have killed about 125 terrorist elements.

As for the Congo, the index of terrorist operations has increased significantly, where terrorist groups supported by ISIS carried out six terrorist operations, killing about 55 people.