In the latest edition of its Al-Naba newsletter, the Islamic State claims that Al Qaeda started a war against the so-called caliphate’s men in West Africa. Independent reporting shows the two sides have clashed in recent weeks.
A letter recovered in Osama bin Laden’s compound reveals that a senior AQIM commander recommended that his group train Boko Haram’s forces. Other official sources confirm that AQIM did provide the training and also groomed part of Boko Haram’s leadership. However, one of the Boko Haram leaders identified in the letter later cofounded a splinter group known as Ansaru, which rejects Boko Haram’s policies. Ansaru has been supported by AQIM.
A letter recovered in Osama bin Laden’s compound reveals that Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, sought direct contact with al Qaeda’s deputy leader at the time. There is abundant evidence that Boko Haram was supported by al Qaeda’s international network until Shekau swore allegiance to the Islamic State’s Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in 2015.
The claim of responsibility for last month’s suicide attacks in Chad comes after the jihadist group killed more than 200 people in Nigeria last week.