Jihadis Networks and their Backgrounds
What is a jihadis network?
A jihadis network is a structure that has an informal, fluctuating leadership, and flexible membership that is made up of nodes who are Moslems practicing "jihads" and by the links that are created through these nodes (Canals, 2009). Despite the informal structure, there is a definite pattern of connections between nodes, and they communicate intending to achieve a common objective (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, 2006). An example of this is the West African Boko Haram terror network.
Where does your selected group primarily operate? (cite specific geographic locations such as country, region or province)
Boko Haram began and still has its primary operations in Nigeria. The group's official name is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awatu wal-Jihad, Arabic for "people committed to the propagation of the prophet's teachings and Jihad" (Chothia, 2016). Mohammed Yusuf founded Boko Haram in 2002, and its operations were concentrated in three states, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa (Chothia, 2016). The group draws most of its fighters from the ethnic group named Kanuri, which is the largest in these three states. Over the years, this terror network has widened its operations to the entire of Nigeria. At the moment, it is extending its military campaign to target neighboring countries, e.g., Cameroon, Chad, and Niger (Chothia, 2016).
What are the physiological and primary motivations for the selected group?
The group might argue to be furthering the teachings of the Prophet. Still, in reality, they are nothing more than selfish, self-seeking individuals who are experiencing the same negative social challenges and misfortunes. As a result, individuals who have joined Boko Haram are...
…and thus, it is a threat to the national interests of the US. The US has revitalized its strategy to counter Boko Haram by increasing foreign military sales. Moreover, the US is also incentivizing disarmament, reintegration and demobilization efforts in Nigeria; and improving the security forces assistance mission to include cyber support, aviation training, and nonlethal effects (Duncan, 2018). However, despite these efforts, Boko Haram has continued to wreak havoc in Nigeria; for example, Boko Haram has continued to attack military personnel and infrastructure. In early March 2020, the insurgency attacked an army base on the town of Damboa, killing four police officers and two civilians (Onuoha et al., 2020). The nature and the continued audacious attacks by Boko Haram on Military barracks point to a lack of effectiveness on the efforts by both the Nigeria Government and…
References
Canals, J. J. M. (2009). Fourth-generation warfare: Jihadist networks and percolation. Mathematical and computer modeling, 50(5-6), 896-909.
Chothia, F. (2016). Who Are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamist Group?. BBC News, November 24.
Duncan, A. (2018). Revitalizing US strategy in Nigeria to address Boko Haram. The Strategy Bridge, 6.
Agbiboa, D.E. (2013a). Peace at Daggers Drawn? Boko Haram and the State of Emergency in Nigeria. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 37(1): 41-67. Boko Haram technically started in 2002 but has been especially active since 2009. Since then, the organization has worked hard to discredit the Nigerian government and replace it with an Islamic state based on Sharia law. Boko Haram is inspired by international radical Islam, and has taken
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