The UN Security Council officially declared Boko Haram a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda on Thursday and imposed sanctions against the Islamist extremists who have carried out a wave of deadly attacks and the recent abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria.
US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power welcomed the council’s action, calling it “an important step in support of the government of Nigeria’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities.”
Nigeria, which is serving a two-year term on the council, asked the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaeda to add Boko Haram to the list of al-Qaeda-linked organizations subject to an arms embargo and asset freeze.
Photo: Reuters
The 14 other council members had until 3pm on Thursday to object and none did. The group was then added to the UN sanctions list under the name Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad, with Boko Haram as an alias.
Quinlan said there is “very clear evidence” that Boko Haram members have trained with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, particularly in developing improvised explosive devices — “one of the main weapons of modern-day terrorism and particularly al-Qaeda.”
There is also evidence that a significant number of Boko Haram members have fought alongside al-Qaeda affiliates in Mali, he said.
Quinlan said Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau also made “very, very strong statements of ... terrorist solidarity with al-Qaeda in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia” and other places in November 2012.
Before Boko Haram’s addition, the al-Qaeda sanctions list included 62 entities and groups, and 213 individuals who are also subject to travel bans.
Quinlan said it is hard to say what the practical impact of sanctions against Boko Haram will be. One possible problem in tracking their finances, he said, is that large parts of the group work in the jungle and probably use cash rather than “substantial or sophisticated financial arrangements for banking — but you never know.”
He urged all 193 UN member states to focus on Boko Haram as a violent al-Qaeda related group, ensure that it is included in any national terrorist lists, and check their own country’s financial and arms dealings to ensure that the organization is not getting money or weapons.
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