Marked drop in terrorist operations in Africa

Mahmud al-Batakoshi

The counter-terrorism strategies followed by African states have succeeded in reducing the activity of terrorist elements to a large extent.

There has been a marked decline in the criminal operations of these elements.

A relative decrease in the number of operations was recorded in March, compared to February by almost 9.1%.

Thirty terrorist operations took place in March. These operations left 487 terrorists dead. Around 16 terrorists were also arrested after these operations, around 2,654 Takfiris also surrendered to the authorities in different African countries.

The sad thing is, however, that this decline in the number of terrorist operations resulted in 243 deaths among the citizens of the same countries, along with 31 injuries. Eight other people were kidnapped by terrorists.

Around 33 terrorist operations took place in February, leaving 180 people dead and 67 others injured. Around 23 people were also injured by terrorists.

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According to a study prepared by the al-Azhar’s Anti-Terrorism Observatory, the East African region ranked first in terms of the number of terrorist attacks, and fourth in terms of the number of victims.

The region, the observatory said, witnessed ten terrorist operations in March.

It added that this amounted to 33.3% of the total number of terrorist operations that took place around the world.

The same operations, it noted, resulted in 29 deaths and 17 injuries.

The observatory said Somalia had the highest rate of operations in the region, with nine terrorist operations that resulted in 24 deaths and 14 injuries.

The observatory pointed out that Kenya witnessed a single terrorist operation that resulted in the death of give people and the injury of three others.

Although the East African region tops the operational scene for March, the number of victims was few, because the Somali government exerts a great effort in combating the terrorist movement al-Shabaab and repelling most of its attacks.

Therefore, there is no choice left for the al-Shabaab terrorists in the face of the comprehensive measures currently being used taken eliminate it, the observatory said.

Nigeria in the lead

The observatory said the West African region came in second place in terms of the number of terrorist operations, and the third in terms of the number of deaths.

ISIS attacked West Africa and its terrorist rival Boko Haram with nine terrorist operations, the observatory said.

This makes up 30% of the total number of terrorist operations, all of which led to 32 deaths, six injuries and kidnappings, the observatory said.

It added that Nigeria had the largest share of these operations, with the country witnessing eight terrorist attacks that resulted in 30 deaths, four injuries and six kidnappings.