UN imposes sanctions against Boko Haram

Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS

The U.N. Security Council officially declared Boko Haram a terrorist group linked to al-Qaida on Thursday and imposed sanctions against the Islamist extremists who have carried out a wave of deadly attacks and the recent abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power welcomed the council’s action, calling it “an important step in support of the government of Nigeria’s efforts to defeat Boko Haram and hold its murderous leadership accountable for atrocities.”

Nigeria, which is serving a two-year term on the council, asked the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaida to add Boko Haram to the list of al-Qaida-linked organizations subject to an arms embargo and asset freeze.

The 14 other council members had until 3 p.m. Thursday to object, and none did. The group was then added to the U.N. sanctions list under the name Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad, with Boko Haram as an alias.

Quinlan said there’s “very clear evidence” that Boko Haram members have trained with al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, particularly in developing improvised explosive devices — “one of the main weapons of modern-day terrorism and particularly al-Qaida.” There is also evidence that a significant number of Boko Haram members have fought alongside al-Qaida affiliates in Mali, he said.

Quinlan said Boko Haram’s current leader, Abubakar Shekau, also made “very, very strong statements of ... terrorist solidarity with al-Qaida in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia” and other places in November 2012.

Before Boko Haram’s addition, the al-Qaida sanctions list included 62 entities and groups, and 213 individuals who are also subject to travel bans.

Quinlan said it’s hard to say what the practical impact of sanctions against Boko Haram will be. One possible problem in tracking their finances, he said, is that large parts of the group work in the jungle and probably use cash rather than “substantial or sophisticated financial arrangements for banking — but you never know.”

According to the sanctions committee, Boko Haram is responsible for attacks and kidnappings in Nigeria and Cameroon and also has been active in Chad and Niger.