Al Qaeda Is Planning More Attacks In Africa

Feisal Omar/Reuters

Philip Obaji Jr., Daily Beast: Watch for More Attacks by al Qaeda’s Shock Troops in Africa

Nigeria announces the capture of ‘Ansaru’ chief Khalid al Barnawi. But al Qaeda’s men in Africa are still very dangerous indeed—especially to foreigners.

WARRI, Nigeria — First, they attacked the Madison Blu Hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, on Nov. 20, killing at least 21 people, most of whom were foreign nationals.

Less than two months later, the same group unleashed another batch of young militants on Burkina Faso’s popular Splendid Hotel and a neighboring café in the capital, Ouagadougou, killing 30 people, including eight Burkinabes, six Canadians, three Ukrainians, three French, and an American.

Then, in March, another batch of Islamist militants killed at least 19 people in a gun attack on a beach resort in southern Ivory Coast. Eleven Ivorians lost their lives, and four French citizens were among the dead, as well as one German, one Nigerian, one Macedonian, and one Lebanese.

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WNU Editor: Africa has always been fertile ground for Islamic extremists. Dysfunctional governments, large land masses to hide, a sympathetic population .... perfect for a group like Al Qaeda to settle down and to grow.