Latest news with #jihadism
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jihadists in Nigeria using TikTok to spread ideology and recruit fighters
Jihadist groups including Boko Haram are increasing in numbers and strength in northeastern Nigeria, and using social media to publicise their campaigns and find new recruits. Jihadists in Nigeria and their supporters are increasingly turning to social media platform TikTok, posting videos of themselves posing with rifles, grenades and stacks of cash, according to reports by French news agency AFP. AFP reviewed videos on the social network, easily accessible to everyone, they said. At least 100 people were killed in the new wave of jihadist attacks in April, as the governor of Borno, the epicentre of the violence which has raged since 2009, said the state is losing ground to armed groups. The news agency has identified several accounts on the Chinese-owned platform on which men and women, some of them very young, display weapons and wads of cash. Algerian TikTok influencer convicted in France for inciting terrorism Some of them broadcast live, preaching anti-Western ideologies in a style reminiscent of the videos released by deceased Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in the early days of the 15-year-old insurgency. Criminal gangs that carry out raids on villages and kidnappings for ransom in the northwest of the country have used TikTok in the past, as Nigerians have testified. (with AFP) Read more on RFI EnglishRead also:Young Nigerian entrepreneurs seek to reshape relationship with FranceChina courts African allies as tensions with Europe, US deepenCombatting 'fake' news in Africa
Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
In the sands of Mauritania, camel cavalry patrols keep jihadists at bay
ACHEMIME (Mauritania), May 24 — A posse of turban-clad soldiers perched on 'ships of the desert' may conjure images of the past — but Mauritania's camelback cavalry plays a vital role in the fight against jihadism today. They are the Meharists, heirs to the camel-riding army units founded back in the time when imperialist France ruled the West African nation, whom AFP accompanied on patrol for two days. Kalashnikovs lay slung over the soldiers' shoulders, while a brand new drone sliced through the burning Saharan air in the southeast of the country. To the east, over a porous and at points ill-defined 2,200-kilometre border, lies Mali — which along with its Sahel neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger is riven by violence from jihadist groups. Members of the Mehariste National Guard unit patrol in the Hodh Ech Chargui region April 7, 2025. — AFP pic To tame the immense, mainly desert territory, Mauritania has turned to the dromedary camel — a handy navigator of sandy terrain that would defeat offroad vehicles. 'The nomadic group can be deployed in very remote or hard-to-reach areas to ensure the state has a presence there,' said National Guard unit commander Colonel Moulaye al-Bashir. The strategy seems to be bearing some fruit. Mauritania has not suffered a jihadist attack since 2011. Saharan 'sedan' Until a few years ago, the desert riders' unit was in decline, numbering barely 50 men. Since 2019 it has enjoyed a renaissance, and today the 'Nomad Group' boasts around 150 riders as well as a herd of 400 camels. The Meharists have been buoyed by a grant of several million euros from the European Union — which has an interest in maintaining Mauritania's stability in an otherwise unstable region, one European diplomat told AFP. Members of the Mehariste National Guard unit approach a target during a training exercise in the Hodh Ech Chargui region, on April 7, 2025. On this particular morning, around 15 camelback troops out on exercise made their way between thorny bushes and the dunes. Guided by instructions bawled into a crackling walkie-talkie, the drill of the day was in how to use their drone to help them spot and arrest a cattle thief. The riders owe much to the one-humped dromedary, or Arabian camel. Indefatigable and able to go for several weeks without either eating or drinking, the dromedaries are essentially a Sahara 'sedan', joked Lieutenant Colonel Ekar Sidi, who commands the group, which forms part of the National Guard. From atop his mount, Colonel al-Bashir hailed the 'impression of freedom' the dromedaries afford the group of riders. 'For us men of the desert it really is just indispensable — we use it as a mount, for its milk, its meat.' 'Bond of trust' More than 1,000 kilometres from the capital Nouakchott, in the landlocked region of Hodh Ech Chargui near the Malian border, the Meharists have the task of gathering intelligence. Hodh Ech Chargui has seen waves of people cross over from Mali, with the Mbera camp currently home to around 140,000 Malian refugees, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Many more are thought to live beyond the camp perimeter, fleeing both jihadist fighters and the threat of abuse by the Malian army or their Russian mercenary allies. Much of the region's inhabitants are from nomadic tribes, who criss-cross borders towards potential breeding grounds for jihadist recruitment with their herds in tow. The Meharists' presence is just one way the Mauritanian authorities are hoping to show the nomads that the state is there. Members of the Mehariste National Guard pray after setting camp on the outskirts of Oualata April 6, 2025. — AFP pic In order to blend in, the mounted group's members were recruited from among the Bedouin tribes, while the riders attempt to build bridges with the desert's hardy inhabitants. 'By taking care of livestock, tracking down cattle thieves, finding lost animals which are returned to their owners — this is how the bond of trust was established,' Colonel al-Bashir said. Brigadier Mbeurik Massoud and his four men had meanwhile just set up camp for the night. Tea was served and a fire lit as the relative nighttime cool settled over the Sahara. Massoud has been patrolling the region since joining the guard in 1989. 'We have come to inform the population of what is happening at the level of the state. We give them treatment and provide medicine,' Colonel al-Bashir said. Member of the Mehariste National Guard unit Cheikh pours tea into a teapot after setting camp with his unit on the outskirts of Oualata April 6, 2025. — AFP ic Control water, control the desert Those wishing to cross the desert must do so along a series of wells built by the Mauritanian government at key points along the Meharists' patrol routes. 'Whoever controls the water points controls the desert,' Colonel al-Bashir said. Besides making it easier for the state and locals to track those attempting to make their way into Mauritania from Mali, the wells have also encouraged nomadic populations to settle down. During the inspection of one desert water tower, project engineer Adama Diallo proudly noted that 'in 2017, there was not even a hut'. 'Today, there are 50 to 60 families. That's an achievement,' he said. Recently the government built a small medical facility, saving its inhabitants the several-hundred-kilometre trek to the nearest town. For life can be tough for the Bedouin who call these sandstorm-battered plateaux home, where temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit). 'Here, it is a long way from the main roads — we have no network, no cars, no shops,' said one local, Boddeh Woul Cheikd, a woman in her 50s, her face veiled. With Mauritania maintaining an ever-watchful eye on its citizens, the country's success in fighting jihadism cannot be attributed to the dromedary riders' presence alone, nor to development projects in its desert regions. Yet other Sahel countries, including unrest-hit Chad and Niger, appear to have taken a keen interest in the Mauritanian approach. Colonel al-Bashir said he hoped to soon train other Meharist units in the area and spread the joy of the 'Mauritanian experience' in the camel's saddle. — AFP
Malay Mail
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
TikTok under fire as Boko Haram, extremists use live streams to call for violence and woo young followers
LAGOS, May 20 — Jihadists in northeastern Nigeria are surging — and using social media to spread the word of their campaigns and recruit fighters. At least 100 people were killed in the new wave of jihadist attacks in April alone, as the governor of Borno, the epicentre of the violence which has raged since 2009, said the state is losing ground to armed groups. At the same time, apparent jihadists and their boosters on TikTok were flaunting rifles, grenades and stacks of cash, according to easily accessible videos reviewed by AFP that same month. They broadcast live in joint videos with accounts run by men preaching anti-Western ideologies in a style reminiscent of the videos released by deceased Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in the early days of the 15-year-old insurgency. Criminal gangs that carry out raids on villages and kidnap for ransom in the northwest of the country have used TikTok in the past. 'It started with bandits,' Bulama Bukarti, a vice president at Texas-based Bridgeway Foundation wrote on X. 'Now, Boko Haram members are hosting live TikTok shows — spreading propaganda, justifying their violence and threatening anyone who dares speak against them.' A Boko Haram fighter threatened Bukarti himself in a now-deleted TikTok video for speaking against the group, he said. While many of the accounts on the video sharing app have been flagged and taken down, the capability of broadcasting live streams on the platform adds another layer of difficulty to monitoring the content they put out. A TikTok spokesperson said it was difficult to quantify the number of accounts linked to terrorist organisations that have been taken down. While some of these accounts have been deleted, several others remain active, according to accounts viewed by AFP at the time of publication. 'Terrorist groups and content related to these groups have no place on TikTok, and we take an uncompromising stance against enabling violent extremism on or off our platform,' a spokesperson for the company told AFP in an emailed statement. Bulama Bukarti, a vice president at Texas-based Bridgeway Foundation, has warned about radicalisation in Nigeria via TikTok. — Picture from X/bulamabukarti 'It's paying off' Among the 19 accounts reviewed by AFP were men dressed as clerics, their faces revealed to the camera even as they called for violence against the government and teamed up with accounts that showed off weapons hauls. Accounts also post old footage of the original Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, and those of Isah Garo Assalafy, who was banned from preaching in public places in Niger state for using violent rhetoric against democracy and Western civilisation. These accounts frequently go live, interacting with followers, answering questions and receiving digital gifts that can be converted into cash. Nigeria's jihadist conflict, which over the years has expanded to include a rival Islamic State group, has killed more than 40,000 and displaced some two million people in Africa's most populous country. Saddiku Muhammad, a former jihadist who has since defected, told AFP that armed groups are turning to TikTok in part because security forces cracked down on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. They also know TikTok is popular with young people. 'Jihadists realised that to capture the minds of young people, they need to speak to them in the language they understand — instead of the traditional didactic and demagogic styles that are boring and unattractive to them,' Muhammad said. 'From all indications, it is paying off. They are reaching out to young potential recruits.' Nigerian extremists are trying to influence youths by flaunting rifles, grenades and stacks of cash on TikTok livestreams. — AFP pic 'They aren't afraid' Analysts told AFP that the use of TikTok by members of armed groups is a direct challenge to the government. Malik Samuel, an Abuja-based security analyst at the pan-African think tank Good Governance Africa, said it is a common Boko Haram tactic to use the group's young members to spread propaganda. 'I believe showing their faces is strategic — to show that they aren't afraid and to let their target know that they are engaging with real people,' Samuel said. Islamic State West Africa Province, however, still appears to follow a more polished, top-down communication strategy than the apparent Boko Haram jihadists posting on TikTok, he said. TikTok said it partnered with UN-backed Tech Against Terrorism to improve the detection and removal of violent extremist content. Tech Against Terrorism said it ended its work with TikTok in 2024. 'Our community guidelines clearly state that we do not allow the presence of violent and hateful organisations or individuals on our platform,' the TikTok spokesman said. 'We will always take action on content found to violate these policies.' — AFP
Arab News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Jihadists in Nigeria turn to TikTok to spread propaganda
LAGOS: Jihadists in northeastern Nigeria are surging -- and using social media to spread the word of their campaigns and recruit fighters. At least 100 people were killed in the new wave of jihadist attacks in April alone, as the governor of Borno, the epicentre of the violence which has raged since 2009, said the state is losing ground to armed groups. At the same time, apparent jihadists and their boosters on TikTok were flaunting rifles, grenades and stacks of cash, according to easily accessible videos reviewed by AFP that same month. They broadcast live in joint videos with accounts run by men preaching anti-Western ideologies in a style reminiscent of the videos released by deceased Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in the early days of the 15-year-old insurgency. Criminal gangs that carry out raids on villages and kidnap for ransom in the northwest of the country have used TikTok in the past. "It started with bandits," Bulama Bukarti, a vice president at Texas-based Bridgeway Foundation wrote on X. "Now, Boko Haram members are hosting live TikTok shows -- spreading propaganda, justifying their violence and threatening anyone who dares speak against them." A Boko Haram fighter threatened Bukarti himself in a now-deleted TikTok video for speaking against the group, he said. While many of the accounts on the video sharing app have been flagged and taken down, the capability of broadcasting live streams on the platform adds another layer of difficulty to monitoring the content they put out. A TikTok spokesperson said it was difficult to quantify the number of accounts linked to terrorist organisations that have been taken down. While some of these accounts have been deleted, several others remain active, according to accounts viewed by AFP at the time of publication. "Terrorist groups and content related to these groups have no place on TikTok, and we take an uncompromising stance against enabling violent extremism on or off our platform," a spokesperson for the company told AFP in an emailed statement. Among the 19 accounts reviewed by AFP were men dressed as clerics, their faces revealed to the camera even as they called for violence against the government and teamed up with accounts that showed off weapons hauls. Accounts also post old footage of the original Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, and those of Isah Garo Assalafy, who was banned from preaching in public places in Niger state for using violent rhetoric against democracy and Western civilisation. These accounts frequently go live, interacting with followers, answering questions and receiving digital gifts that can be converted into cash. Nigeria's jihadist conflict, which over the years has expanded to include a rival Islamic State group, has killed more than 40,000 and displaced some two million people in Africa's most populous country. Saddiku Muhammad, a former jihadist who has since defected, told AFP that armed groups are turning to TikTok in part because security forces cracked down on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. They also know TikTok is popular with young people. "Jihadists realised that to capture the minds of young people, they need to speak to them in the language they understand -- instead of the traditional didactic and demagogic styles that are boring and unattractive to them," Muhammad said. "From all indications, it is paying off. They are reaching out to young potential recruits." Analysts told AFP that the use of TikTok by members of armed groups is a direct challenge to the government. Malik Samuel, a security analyst at Abuja-based think tank Good Governance Africa, said it is a common Boko Haram tactic to use the group's young members to spread propaganda. "I believe showing their faces is strategic -- to show that they aren't afraid and to let their target know that they are engaging with real people," Samuel said. Islamic State West Africa Province, however, still appears to follow a more polished, top-down communication strategy than the apparent Boko Haram jihadists posting on TikTok, he said. TikTok said it has partnered with UN-backed Tech Against Terrorism to improve the detection and removal of violent extremist content. "Our community guidelines clearly state that we do not allow the presence of violent and hateful organisations or individuals on our platform," it said. "We will always take action on content found to violate these policies." oa-abu/tba/nro/kjm
Wall Street Journal
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Sufis vs. Jihadists in Mogadishu
Mogadishu, Somalia Jihadism is an ever-fluctuating menace: a local terror one year, a threat to global order the next. Somalia is an exception to the swinging pendulum of extremist power. The al Qaeda franchise al-Shabaab has attacked nearly every state institution, security installation and large hotel in Mogadishu over the past 20 years. In April it captured key towns within 150 miles of the capital, where radicals continue to plant roadside bombs and launch mortars. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia recently determined it needs an additional 8,000 troops to fulfil its mandate.
