“In the shadow of the Sept. 11 attacks, the United States rushed troops and
military aid to a swath of West Africa to help French forces stop the spread of
Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. More than a decade later, and with
hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance spent, that regional
counterterrorism effort has largely failed. Groups that have declared
allegiance to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are on the march. Military coups
have toppled civilian-led governments in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The new leaders have ordered American and French troops out, and in some cases
invited Russian mercenaries in to take their place. As the United States
withdraws 1,000 military personnel from Niger and shutters a $110 million air
base there by September, American officials are scrambling to work with a new
set of countries in coastal West Africa to battle a violent extremist
insurgency that they perceive is steadily seeping south.”











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Eye on Extremism



June 7, 2024



The New York Times: U.S. Confronts Failures As Terrorism Spreads In West Africa
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“In the shadow of the Sept. 11 attacks, the United States rushed troops and
military aid to a swath of West Africa to help French forces stop the spread of
Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. More than a decade later, and with
hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance spent, that regional
counterterrorism effort has largely failed. Groups that have declared
allegiance to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are on the march. Military coups
have toppled civilian-led governments in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The new leaders have ordered American and French troops out, and in some cases
invited Russian mercenaries in to take their place. As the United States
withdraws 1,000 military personnel from Niger and shutters a $110 million air
base there by September, American officials are scrambling to work with a new
set of countries in coastal West Africa to battle a violent extremist
insurgency that they perceive is steadily seeping south.”



Associated Press: The Latest | Israeli Strikes Kill At Least 18 In Central
Gaza A Day After Attack On UN-Run School
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“Overnight Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza killed at least 18 people,
including children, a day after 33 were killed at a United Nations-run school
sheltering displaced Palestinian families, health officials said Friday.
Strikes hit the Nuseirat and Maghazi refugee camps and Deir al-Balah and
Zawaiyda towns, they said. Four children and one woman were among those killed
as well as the mayor of the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to hospital
records. Israel’s army said Friday it was continuing operations in parts of
Central Gaza. It said its troops had killed dozens of militants, located tunnel
shafts and destroyed infrastructure in the area. The strikes came a day after
at least 33 people were killed at a U.N.-run school in the Nuseirat refugee
camp which Israel said was being used as a Hamas compound, without providing
evidence.”




Recent CEP Press Releases

* Extremist Content Online: TikTok Post Glorifying Christchurch Attacker
Receives Over 35,000 Views, Account Links To Telegram Content Celebrating
Attacker
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* Extremist Content Online: Patriot Front Affiliated Jiu-Jitsu Team
Advertises Recent Tournament Participants
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* CEP Statement On International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia,
Interphobia And Transphobia
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* Extremist Content Online: More Neo-Nazi And Antisemitic Channels Discovered
Using Advertisements On Telegram To Collect Revenue
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* CEP Calls on Qatar Economic Forum Participants to Withdraw from Conference
Today
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CEP Mentions



Financial World: The Taliban's Return: Afhgan Delegation Attends Russia's SPIEF

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“... While Vladimir Putin did not directly address this, he stated the
necessity to develop "relations" with the Taliban, as well as with the "current
government" in Afghanistan. What does this mean? Hans-Jakob Schindler, an
expert on the Middle East at the international organization "Counter Extremism
Project" (CEP), says that although he is not familiar with the internal
decision-making processes of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it can be
assumed that Russia expects some form of quid pro quo for the offer to remove
the Taliban from its terrorist list. As he notes, this could lead to problems:
"The Taliban are always ready to accept a favor, but when it comes to quid pro
quos, things become very complicated." German Afghanistan expert Thomas Ruttig
sees the Kremlin's initiative as a tactic of taking small steps toward official
recognition of the Taliban—a move that, of course, is welcomed by them.”



Yemen



Bloomberg: US Seeks To Up Pressure On Houthis In Threat To Yemen-War Truce
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“The US and its allies are raising the stakes in their struggle to curb ship
attacks by Houthi militants in the Red Sea by increasingly blocking their
revenue sources, a move that could jeopardize a peace deal intended to end an
almost decade-long war in Yemen. Washington has told parties including Saudi
Arabia that key elements of a United Nations-led plan committed to in December
can’t go ahead unless the Iran-backed group ends its near seven-month hostile
maritime campaign, said several people who met recently with US officials. That
would have included the disbursal of at least $1.5 billion in civil-servant
salaries by Riyadh to Houthi-controlled territories, according to a person
involved in negotiating the deal. A US State Department official, who asked not
to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, said President Joe
Biden’s administration supports peace in Yemen to address longstanding economic
and humanitarian crises in the country.”



Associated Press: Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Detain At Least 9 UN Staffers And
Others In Sudden Crackdown, Officials Say
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“At least nine Yemeni employees of United Nations agencies have been detained
by Yemen’s Houthi rebels under unclear circumstances, authorities said Friday,
as the rebels face increasing financial pressure and airstrikes from a U.S.-led
coalition. Others working for aid groups also likely have been taken. The
detentions come as the Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital nearly a decade ago
and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been
targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in
the Gaza Strip. But while gaining more attention internationally, the secretive
group has cracked down at dissent at home, including recently sentencing 44
people to death. Regional officials, speaking to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief journalists,
confirmed the U.N. detentions.”



Middle East



Associated Press: The Latest | Israeli Troops Launch Attacks In Central Gaza,
Possibly Widening Their Offensive
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“The Israeli military said it has “operational control” over two areas of
central Gaza as it carries out ground incursions and airstrikes in a possible
broadening of its monthslong war against Hamas. The army said Wednesday its was
fighting “above and below ground” in eastern parts of Deir al-Balah and the
built-up Bureij refugee camp. In Jerusalem, thousands of mostly
ultranationalist Israelis marched through a sensitive Palestinian area of the
city, with some stoking already surging wartime tensions by chanting “Death to
Arabs.” The eight-month war in Gaza has largely cut off the flow of food,
medicine and other supplies to Palestinians who are facing widespread hunger.
The Biden administration has launched an intense drive to persuade Hamas and
Israel to accept a new cease-fire and hostage release proposal, which has
raised hopes of ending the war.”



The National: Israeli Police Detain Palestinian Journalist Attacked By
Extremist Mob
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“Israeli police detained Palestinian journalist Saif Al Qawasmi shortly after
he was attacked by an extremist mob in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Al Qawasmi, a
freelance photographer for several Arab outlets, was held for about an hour and
a half after an Israeli ultranationalist told police he was a member of Hamas,
Haaretz reported. The arrest came shortly after Al Qawasmi was assaulted by
dozens of mostly teenage Israelis, who surrounded him close to Damascus Gate.
The image quickly became emblematic of the horrors Palestinian residents of
Jerusalem’s Old City face during the annual Flag March, a deeply contentious
parade through the Muslim Quarter. The Haaretz report – written by journalist
Nir Hasson, who was also attacked trying to protect Al Qawasmi – said there was
no evidence any of Al Qawasmi’s attackers had been summoned by police.”



Somalia



BBC: Giant Step For Somalia With UN Security Council Seat
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“Somalia has won a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council
- hailed as a significant step for the war-torn nation It will be the first
time the country, which descended into civil war more than 30 years ago, has
held the position since the 1970s. The top table at the UN determines how the
organisation should respond to conflicts around the world. Analysts say
Somalia’s battle to bring an end to its turmoil and its fight against Islamist
militants will help inform the UN’s decisions. The lengths countries go to for
a seat at UN top table There are 10 rotating non-permanent members on the
council, along with the five permanent members - the US, the UK, France, China
and Russia. To win a seat, which can carry influence in world affairs, a
country needs to secure the support of at least two thirds of the General
Assembly delegations that are voting.”



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