March 8, 2015 Game changer: Boko Haram pledges allegiance to ISIL
While it may seem like BH is adding to it’s behemoth of power and fear by joining with ISIS, perhaps this is a step in the wrong direction, especially for their public image.
a sign of Intergroup failure?
Some say pledge to ISIL is a sign of weakness. Or even a desperate attempt to boost their members’ morale, image, and attract local support that has been lost since some civilians are disgusted at the carnage the group has caused (especially those affected by the Chibok girls’ kidnapping).
Scott Stewart of Stratfor, a global intelligence and advisory firm suggests, “I really don’t see it as being a big deal changer—no matter what they call themselves, they’re still the same guys. They’ve clearly always been influenced by ISIS.”
However, what we do not know is whether some members of BH did not want to pledge allegiance to ISIS, which would suggest some inter-group fighting or fractionalization. So far, no reports of this and no sign of burning out, since they seem to be quite active in their attacks.
Comparison of ISIS and Boko Haram
Targeting errors & loss of contact with the people
“According to SITE Monitoring, however, a subscription service which monitors and translates Islamist (and other extremist) websites, Boko Haram’s actions have become too much for even many extremists to accept: It is one thing to talk about religious war in theory; it is quite another thing to see the human toll when it is implemented in practice. Let us hope that the girls are rescued with minimal casualties, both among the hostages and those seeking to free them. And let us also hope that men like Abubakar Shekau will soon join the masterminds of the Beslan attack in hell.
But, most of all, let us hope that those who until now might have been following and–in the case of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar–funding these radical preachers will see in these Boko Haram actions not righteousness, but true evil. Perhaps out of this horror, Nigeria can turn a corner.”
– Michael Rubin of Commentary Magazine
news update: march 25, 2015
Boko Haram abducts hundreds of Nigerians (including children) and plans to use them as human shields
It sounds like “operation human shields” out of the Southpark movie, but it’s not. It’s another one of BH’s tactics which is leaving Nigerians upset and in fear for their families and themselves. Perhaps Nigerians that support the insurgents will start to realize that their cause isn’t enough to justify their heinous actions.
Sources:
http://qz.com/358264/why-boko-harams-pledge-of-allegiance-to-isil-is-a-symptom-of-weakness-not-strength/
https://www.commentarymagazine.com/2014/05/08/the-backlash-against-boko-haram/
http://www.africajournalist.org/boko-haram-isis/