Tag Archives: Ties

Boko Haram Fracturing Over Islamic State Ties- U.S. General

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A senior U.S. military general on Wednesday said the terrorist group in Nigerian, Boko Haram, had been fractured internally.

Lieut.-Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the nominee to lead U.S. military’s Africa Command, disclosed this in Washington during his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He said that the problem in the group resulted from some members splitting from shadowy leader, Abubakar Shekau, over his failure to adhere to guidance from the Iraq and Syria-based Islamic State. Waldhauser said that the internal division was illustrative of limits of Islamic State’s influence over Boko Haram so far, in spite of the West African group’s pledge of allegiance to it last year.

“Several months ago, about half of Boko Haram broke off to a separate group because they were not happy with the amount of buy-in, if you will, from Boko Haram into the ISIL brand,’’ he explained.

He, however, said that Shekau had not fallen into line with Islamic State’s instructions, including ignoring calls for Boko Haram to stop using children as suicide bombers.

“He’s been told by ISIL to stop doing that, but he has not done so, and that’s one of the reasons why this splinter group has broken off.

“But, the Islamic State was trying to reconcile those two groups,’’ he said.

The military chief said that there was no evidence that Boko Haram had so far received significant operational support or financing from Islamic State.

He said that the assessment suggested that Boko Haram’s loyalty pledge had so far, mostly been a branding exercise.

Waldhauser acknowledged differing opinions about how much influence Islamic State actually had over Boko Haram, which won global infamy for its 2014 kidnapping of 276 Chibok school girls.

“They certainly have not given them a lot of financial assistance.

“So, the point could be that it is perhaps in improvement in tradecraft, in training and the like,” he said.

Waldauser stated that Shekau’s local focus and voiced concern was about whether a splinter group may act more in concert with Islamic State’s trans-regional ambitions.

“What concerns me is the break-off group of Boko Haram, which wants to be more ISIL-like, and consequently buy into the ISIL-brand of attacking western interests,” he said.

Credit: Guardian

Saraki Seeks Stronger Nigeria-Ukraine Ties

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Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, canvassed a stronger bilateral and economic ties between Nigeria and the Republic of Ukraine.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, stated this while playing host the Ukrainian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Valerii Aleksandruk, who visited him in Abuja.

He thanked the Ukrainian authorities for their support to Nigeria, especially in the fight against terrorism, while commiserating with Ukrainian government over the recent loss of lives in the eastern part of the country.

Saraki said: “I want to use this opportunity to show our appreciation for the friendly relationship that exists between the two countries. Particularly, I want to also acknowledge the support that Ukraine has given us in the fight against terrorism, the military co-operations, and supply of arms and ammunition which has gone a long way to help us in the fight.”

Credit: DailyTimes

Oil Prices Rise After Saudi Arabia Cuts Ties With Iran

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Oil prices rose Monday on Middle East supply risks after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

At about 1230 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in February climbed 30 cents to $37.34 a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for February won 59 cents to stand at $37.87 a barrel compared with Thursday’s close.

Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, noted that “geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are adding to existing volatility in the price of oil”.

Tensions between major crude producer Iran and its Sunni Arab neighbours reached new heights Monday as the world’s biggest pumper of oil Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies cut or downgraded diplomatic ties with Tehran in a row over the execution of a Shiite cleric.

Angry exchanges following Saudi Arabia’s execution Saturday of prominent Shiite cleric and activist Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr erupted into a full-blown diplomatic crisis as Riyadh and then ally Bahrain severed their relations with Tehran.

“Oil started the new year on the mend, as… markets reacted to fears that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may threaten the supply of oil,” said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets in Singapore.

Despite the rise, Aw said the persistent global crude oversupply would continue to weigh on prices over the longer term.

“Unless we see a convincing drop in oil output from these two nations, and the broader oil-producing community, the supply glut issue will persist, which means oil prices would remain under pressure for a longer period,” he told AFP.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, whose 13 members include Saudi and Iran, decided last month against cutting output levels despite a plunge in oil prices — in a bid to maintain market share faced with competition from North American shale oil output.

Credit: Vanguard

ISIS Ties 2 Boys To Pole For Eating During Ramadan

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The Islamic State group on Monday made two youths hang from a beam by their wrists after accusing them of eating during daylight hours in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said.

“Residents of the village of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor province reported that IS suspended from a crossbar two boys aged under 18 near the HQ of the Hissba”, the jihadist police, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

“The children have been suspended by ropes from a pole since noon, and they were still there in the late evening,” he said.

“Apparently, they were caught eating. A placard was attached to the bodies reading “They broke the fast with no religious justification”.

Credit: AFP

US Aims To Broaden Ties With Nigeria

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United States Vice President, Joe Biden, has affirmed his country’s readiness to expand collaborations with Nigeria on issues of common concern. These include economic and security matters.

According to a statement the White House made available to CAJ News, Bidden made the pledge when he spoke with Nigerian President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to congratulate him on his victory in the recent elections. “The Vice President commended President-elect Buhari for his leadership in helping to ensure the elections were conducted peacefully and urged him to continue to foster a smooth, inclusive, and peaceful transition with President Jonathan,” read a statement.

“The Vice President expressed the United States’ support for Nigeria’s efforts to counter Boko Haram, recover hostages held by the group, and protect civilian populations,” the White House statement added.

The US Vice President also expressed the willingness of the United States to partner more closely with Nigeria to strengthen its economy.

Credit: CAJ News