“The last time rebellious soldiers attempted to overthrow Burkina Faso's
government in 2015, Marcel Tankoano was among thousands of protesters who too

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


February 2, 2022

  

Reuters: Coups Cheered In West Africa As Islamist Insurgencies Sap Faith In
Democracy
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“The last time rebellious soldiers attempted to overthrow Burkina Faso's
government in 2015, Marcel Tankoano was among thousands of protesters who took
to the streets to oust the junta. Within days, loyalist forces had restored the
president to power. Last week, Tankoano was on the streets again, this time
celebrating the military coup that toppled the country's elected president,
Roch Kabore. “Since the 1990s there has been a wave of democracy across West
Africa. But that democracy has failed the people,” said Tankoano, a civil
society leader, at his home outside the capital Ouagadougou. “We must be clear,
we need a military regime.” His change of heart reflects disenchantment across
West Africa's Sahel region, where elected governments have failed to contain
growing militant violence over the last decade that has killed thousands of
people and displaced millions more. Emboldened by popular anger, militaries in
Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso have taken matters into their own hands, staging
four coups in 18 months and reversing democratic gains that had seen the region
shed its tag as Africa's “coup belt”. Poverty and corruption have further
undermined faith in civilian rulers, worrying international partners including
France and the United States who have troops in the region fighting Islamist
insurgents and fear greater instability.”

 

The New York Times: Anders Behring Breivik, Killer In 2011 Norway Massacre, Is
Denied Parole
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“Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who killed 77 people in gun
and bomb attacks in 2011, was denied parole on Tuesday by a Norwegian court
that said he “appeared devoid of empathy and compassion for the victims of the
terror.” Mr. Breivik, 42, who has served 10 years of a 21-year sentence for the
attacks, showed no signs that his extremist views had waned during his years of
incarceration. When the parole hearing began on Jan. 18, he entered the
courtroom and made a Nazi-style salute. He also carried and wore signs
emblazoned with racist messages, including one that read “Stop your genocide
against our white nations.” Speaking to the judge, Mr. Breivik demanded that he
be treated as a prisoner of war. Judge Dag Bjorvik oversaw the parole hearing,
which lasted for two weeks and was held at Skien prison for security reasons.
Mr. Breivik’s lawyer, Oystein Storrvik, said on Tuesday that they would appeal
the verdict, after expressing pessimism at the start of the hearing. “No
Norwegian lawyer wants a case to begin with a Hitler salute,” he said in an
interview with The Times last month. He said he was not particularly concerned
with Mr. Breivik winning his parole, adding that his long-term strategy was to
“improve the conditions under which he is sitting” in prison.”

 

United States

 

New York Daily News: ‘Boogaloo Boys’ Extremist In NYC Gets In 4 Years Prison
Time For Hoarded Ghost Guns
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“A California man connected to the “Boogaloo Boys” extremist group was
sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday for hoarding homemade ghost guns
and a stockpile of ammunition in his Manhattan Airbnb rental. Therkelsen was
arrested by the joint FBI-NYPD terrorism task force on Dec. 15, 2020, after
cops and agents found two operable and untraceable “ghost guns” in the Airbnb
he was staying in on First Ave. in the East Village. The two 9-mm. pistols were
made with metal and polymer parts Therkelsen bought on eBay and other websites.
Police also found 11 high-capacity magazines, body armor, other gun parts,
ammunition, tools for assembly and a T-shirt that said, “kill cops.”
Prosecutors said Therkelsen’s California rap sheet meant he couldn’t legally
own a gun. A search of his cell phone turned up evidence of his affiliation
with the Boogaloo Boys. The “Boogaloo Bois” are a loosely connected group who
espouse violent anti-government sentiments, according to the Justice
Department. The term “Boogaloo” itself references a supposedly impending second
civil war in the United States and is associated with violent uprisings against
the government, the DOJ explained.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Voice Of America: UN, Rights Groups Demand Taliban Free 2 Afghan Journalists
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“The Taliban have arrested two journalists working for a local news channel in
Afghanistan, which has seen an increase in assaults on dissent since the
Islamist group seized power last August. The arrests come days after two women
activists went missing in the capital, Kabul, amid accusations they are being
held by the Taliban. Local press freedom advocates alleged Ariana TV reporters
Waris Hasrat and Aslam Hijab were picked up by Taliban forces on Monday
afternoon while they were leaving office for lunch in the capital. “The reason
for the arrest of these reporters is not yet clear,” Free Speech Hub, an
independent Afghan group working for press freedom, said in a statement. The
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) demanded Tuesday the
Taliban address the journalists’ detention and make clear the whereabouts of
the missing women activists. “Mounting concern about restrictions on media &
free expression. UN urges Taliban to make public why they detained these
@ArianaNews_ reporters & to respect Afghan's rights,” UNAMA said on Twitter.
Taliban officials have not yet commented on the incident. Ariana TV officials
said the Taliban “have assured us of comprehensive investigation.”

 

Voice Of America: With US Away, China Gets Friendly With Afghanistan's Taliban
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“It's approaching six months since the Taliban took over the Afghan capital,
Kabul, on August 15. And in the months since the U.S. withdrawal from
Afghanistan, neighboring China has taken a keen interest in the fate of the
Central Asian country. The interest, in fact, predated the Taliban takeover. In
late July, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a nine-member Taliban
delegation met in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. The meeting, some
analysts said at the time, underscored Beijing's warming ties with the Islamist
group and the Taliban's growing clout on the global stage. In addition, last
October, Foreign Minister Wang spoke about China's expectations for
Afghanistan's future after he had met with the Taliban interim government
representatives in Doha, Qatar, where the two parties “decided to establish a
working-level mechanism.” China's expectations, Wang said, include the
following: Build a more inclusive political structure in which all ethnic
groups and factions play a part; implement more moderate foreign and domestic
policies, including the protection of women's rights; “make a clear break with
all terrorist forces, including the Islamic State and the East Turkestan
Islamic Movement”; and pursue a peaceful foreign policy, especially with
neighboring countries.”

 

Lebanon

 

Arab News: Saving Lebanon Can Help Prevent Iran’s Web Of Terror From Spreading
In Region, Activists Argue <[link removed]>

 

“Lebanon will be “another Iran-dominated, corruption-riddled failed state” if
critical steps are not taken soon to end government corruption in the country,
tackle the economic challenges it is facing and address the “crippling” issue
of Hezbollah’s violence. This is the conclusion of a report published on
Tuesday by two leading Middle East think tanks based in Washington, the
American Task Force on Lebanon and the Middle East Institute. To mark the
occasion they hosted a webinar during which panelists discussed ways in which
the report’s powerful conclusions might be implemented and order restored to
Lebanon. A major part of the discussion focused on the role of Hezbollah, and
participants noted that the outcome of the ongoing US negotiations with Iran
over its nuclear program could have significant ramifications for Lebanon. Paul
Salem, the president of the Middle East Institute, said Lebanon faces many
challenges, including the failure to eliminate sectarianism over the past 31
years, but that a greater challenge is the continuing presence and power of
Hezbollah as a non-state actor with allegiance to Iran.”

 

Egypt

 

Al Monitor: Attacks Raise Fears Of Islamic State Resurgence In Sinai
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“Local security analysts warn against a possible resurgence by the Islamic
State (IS) in the Sinai Peninsula, in the wake of a string of attacks on army
troops, Bedouins and tribal figures in the northeastern Egyptian territory.
Five army troops, including an officer, sergeant and three conscripts, were
killed in the northern Sinai town of Baer al-Abd Jan. 25, when an explosive
device, planted by IS operatives, went off, during an army combing operation in
the town. The incident came only hours after IS militants kidnapped six people
from the town and fled, according to tribal sources. Northern Sinai, the main
hotspot of IS activities in Egypt, has been relatively calm for several weeks.
Nevertheless, the latest attack and kidnappings give rise to fears that they
might be part of a regional reawakening of the organization, one that has so
far been noticed in Syria, Iraq and Libya. “We are witnessing a comeback by IS
in several regional hotspots, after the organization succeeded in regrouping,”
Ehab Youssef, a retired police general, told Al-Monitor. “This comeback can
embolden the local IS branch into more attacks in the coming period.” On Jan.
20, militants affiliated with IS attacked a major prison complex run by Syria's
Kurds in northeastern Syria to free thousands of IS fighters who were held
inside the prison.”

 

Nigeria

 

All Africa: Nigeria: Troops, Police Kill 28 Terrorists, Rescue 30 In Sokoto,
Zamfara <[link removed]>

 

“Sokoto State police command in its onslaught against bandits, code named
“Operation Sahara Storm” has killed 23 bandits in their camps in Illela, Rabah
and Goronyo local government areas. This came as the Nigerian Army said its
troops conducting “Operation Hadin Kai” in the North East killed five Islamic
State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during encounters in Yobe and
Borno States. In the Sokoto raid, 37 others belonging to the Bello Turji bandit
camp were arrested at camps in Bingo, Sangari, Dunawa, Tsamaye, Sakanau,
Zangon, Mayel and Gudugudu villages. They were paraded at the command
headquarters by the police yesterday. Also paraded before newsmen were 20
others for offences ranging from criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, cattle
rustling, culpable homicide and possession of prohibited firearms. Items
recovered from the suspected bandits include 32 AK-47 rifles, 2 rocket
propeller-gun, one rocket launcher, 1,412 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition,
1,200 rounds of AA live ammunition, 4 locally made pistol, one beretta pistol,
3 pairs of army camouflage uniforms and 4 operational vehicles.”

 

Sahara Reporters: Exclusive: Boko Haram Fighters Return To Borno Highways,
Search Vehicles To Fish Out Security Personnel
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“Militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic
State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah
lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād on Monday mounted roadblocks in some parts of Borno
State. Areas, where the checkpoints were mounted by the terror group, include
Mile 40, along Maiduguri/Gajaram road and Wajiroko, along Damboa/Biu road.
Sources said the insurgents were on the highways “checking on travellers'
identity cards to fish out security operatives travelling in mufti.”  “They
were also issuing tax receipts to defaulters,” another source confirmed.
SaharaReporters had in several reports in 2021 reported how ISWAP had been
taxing residents of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe State. Sources said failure of the
residents to comply with the directive attracted the death penalty. The
terrorist group also lifted the ban imposed on fishing and farming activities
in the Lake Chad area, three years after chasing people out of the area for
allegedly spying for Nigerian troops. It, nevertheless, imposed new taxes and
levies in the areas controlled by ISWAP-Boko Haram, to regulate trades and
agricultural activities.”

 

Mali

 

Al Jazeera: Mali And France, A Timeline Of Mounting Tensions
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“Mali’s military-led government has expelled France’s ambassador, the latest
sign of mounting tensions between the West African country and its former
colonial power. The standoff comes as Western powers say Russian mercenaries
working for the controversial Wagner group have been deployed in Mali, a
country at the heart of a long-running conflict in the Sahel region, where
thousands of French troops are deployed to fight armed groups. On August 18,
2020, a group of Malian soldiers led by Colonel Assimi Goita overthrew elected
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was facing angry protests over the
government’s failure to stem the violence. The coup is seen as a blow to French
President Emmanuel Macron, who had supported Keita and sought to improve
relations with former colonies in Africa. On March 30, 2021, in a rare
criticism of French forces in Mali, United Nations investigators accused the
French military of being responsible for the killing of at least 19 civilians
at a wedding party in central Mali in an air raid three months before. France
denied the findings, saying its forces targeted an “armed terrorist group” and
that it had “numerous reservations about the methodology used” in the UN
investigation.”

 

Australia

 

The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Zero Tolerance’: More Than $60m To Combat Violent
Extremism
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“Australia will pour more than $60 million into countering violent extremism
amid an increase in conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic and
concerns from MPs about their safety following last year’s murder of British MP
Sir David Amess. The nation’s security agencies have been raising the alarm
about an upturn in “single-issue” violent extremism, citing anti-lockdown
protests as an example. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews will on Wednesday
announce an additional $61.7 million for Australia’s counter-extremism
programs, doubling the funding they’ve received since 2013. Ms Andrews said
Australia was a “peaceful, tolerant, and harmonious country, but we cannot be
blind to the fact that there are those among us who seek to sow hate, fear, and
discord”. “Violent extremists may have a range of ideologies and motivations,
but none of them are welcome in this country,” Ms Andrews said. “This
government has zero tolerance for anyone threatening the peace and cohesion of
our society by trying to use violence to achieve a political, religious, or
ideological goal.”

 

Europe

 

Radio Free Europe: Court In Russia Rejects Navalny's Request To Cancel His
Status Of 'Terrorist'
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“A court in Russia's Vladimir region has rejected imprisoned opposition
politician Aleksei Navalny’s request to annul his designated status as "a
terrorist and extremist." The Petushki district court pronounced its decision
on February 1. Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) officials said at the
hearing that Navalny was tagged with the status because "he had committed
administrative violations of laws and regulations, founded an organization that
was recognized as extremist, and because a criminal case had been launched
against him on extremism charges." The court's ruling came a week after Russian
authorities added Navalny and several of his associates, most of whom are
currently outside of Russia because they feared for their safety, to the
federal registry of terrorists and extremists. Navalny and his supporters,
along with some Western governments, have condemned the moves as politically
motivated.”

 

Southeast Asia

 

Al Jazeera: Advocacy Group Calls On Sri Lanka To Repeal ‘Anti-Terror’ Law
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“The Sri Lankan government must repeal a controversial security act, the
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said on Tuesday, adding that the
proposed reforms by the right-wing government were “woefully inadequate”. The
Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) gives security forces sweeping powers to
arrest and imprison suspects. “The PTA as it stands allows for arbitrary and
indefinite deprivation of liberty of any individual, group of individuals,
association, organisation or body of persons within or outside Sri Lanka
suspected of a wide range of ill-defined activities that are considered
unlawful under this Act,” the ICJ, which advocates for human rights, said in a
statement on Tuesday. The advocacy body said the proposed amendments to the
law, such as the reduction of detention period, and allowing a person detained
for 12 months to seek bail, still allow for “persons to be deprived of liberty
for an entire year without being given the opportunity to be heard before a
court of law”. The UN Human Rights Council in September called for an
“immediate moratorium” on the use of PTA, and that “a clear timeline be set for
its comprehensive review or repeal”. Critics warn the law is being used as a
weapon targeting dissidents and minorities in the Buddhist-majority South Asian
island nation.”

 

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