About TRAC’s Core Articles
Commissioned, proprietary analysis of key components of terrorist activities and groups, such as “Recruiting Female Suicide Bombers”, written by experts worldwide.
Trouble in the State of Boko HaramBoko Haram’s (Jama`at Ahl al-Sunna li al-Da`wa wa al-Jihad) current operational focus is often seen as identical with the ambitions of its leader Abibkar Shekau. Though Shekau has succeeded in personalizing Boko Haram to suit his own extremist’s agenda, what is under-reported is the leadership rivalries that do not necessarily adhere to Shekau’s itinerary. Attributed to diverse influences and objectives, these rivalries are most noticeable between the leaders who had close ties with Boko Haram's first leader Muhammad Yusuf. Shekau's focus on the “near enemy” is influenced by a clear ethnic agenda within Nigeria; however, the other three often unheard of leaders within Boko Haram, Khalid al-Barnawi, Mamman Nur and Adam Kambar, have much larger goals in mind: a transnational agenda.[i] Baranwi and Nur view Boko Haram’s future in both an international and regional context by seeking close collaboration with groups like…
