Possible Proof Boko Haram Is Definitely Not Al Qaeda Affiliated


Only months after a veiled 10-year-old girl walks into a crowded market with explosives, Boko Haram’s suicide bombings have struck again. This time, the bloody event occurred in Cameroon, leaving at least 20 dead.

Suicide bombings are not original in Boko Haram, as in the beginning the militant group liked getting credit for their murders. Over the years, many have questioned if Boko Haram is affiliated with Al Qaeda and, though many publications have tried to inspire belief in the alliance, there are many reasons why Boko Haram being Al Qaeda affiliated is not very probable.

In March, the Islamic extremist group publicly pledged allegiance to ISIS, also known as the Islamic State. ISIS, in turn, publicly accepted Boko Haram’s pledge, making them official allies in the fight against the Western world. How is this possible proof of Al Qaeda involvement? Well, a recent Brookings study compared ISIS to Al Qaeda amidst rumors that the Islamic State was also Al Qaeda affiliated. However, the study was able to find many differences in the two terrorist organizations, which may prove that all three terrifying organizations are their own individual entities.

First, the origins of both ISIS and Al Qaeda show the difference between the two. Reportedly, even when Al Qaeda was present in Iraq where ISIS was born, ISIS members rejected Al Qaeda’s leadership. Therefore, the Islamic State had always planned to be independent. Even with that reasonable truth, the study found many other differences which show that ISIS and Al Qaeda are completely different. According to Brookings, ISIS and Al Qaeda have “different threat profiles and have been fighting for the same allies, proving that not only are they not friends, they may in fact be enemies.” This brings the question of Boko Haram’s ties to Al Qaeda to an end.

Boko Haram being a pledged ISIS affiliate, being that ISIS is more organized than Boko Haram, means that the Nigerian-based Jihadists are under the leadership of the Islamic State. While under ISIS’ leadership, Boko Haram has progressed its jihadi tactics by beginning suicide bombings. Although tactics like suicide bombings are very similar to things Al Qaeda has done in the past, it’s safe to say the ISIS and its child organization, Boko Haram, are just copycats. The recent incident in Cameroon is the perfect example of how Boko Haram, and any ally, is not Al Qaeda material.

In Cameroon, Boko Haram chose to attack at popular night spot, according to the Irish Examiner. Al Qaeda would have went for a governing body. Boko Haram’s sole purpose seems to be to ignite fear for purposes of keeping West Africans in line with Eastern Islamic ways and to keep Westerners away. Considering that the jihad, in terrorism is the war against the unbelievers, Boko Haram is killing on the wrong side of the world.

[Image via IBTimes]

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