By William Tucker
The United Nations headquarters building in the Nigerian capital of Abuja was struck by a large car bomb killing at least 18 and wounding hundreds more. According to reports, the hospitals in Abuja have become overwhelmed by the large amount of casualties injured in the blast. Boko Harem, an indigenous Islamist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Two months ago in June the group attacked a police station, but to much less effect. It was this attack in June that prompted the Nigerian government to launch a crackdown on the group, however it has not he the desired impact. Further complicating matters is the recent violence between rival Muslim and Christian sects around the northern city of Juba.
U.S. Africom commander General Carter Ham has told the press that intelligence indicates that Boko Harem has been in contact with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. While the extent of this contact is unknown it is important to remember that many experienced al-Qaeda militants have relocated to Africa to wage jihad in a more conducive environment. Local governments are struggling with the problem, but are getting a substantial amount of international assistance. Whether or not this large influx of aid is enough to tackle the problem remains to be seen. For now, we’ll keep a close watch on North Africa and how militants groups take advantage of the recent political turmoil.
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