African islamists coordinating?

A Guardian article from their South African correspondent spreads the news:

According to the US military in Africa, at least three African islamist group would be joinng their efforts... Al-Shabaab militants - active in the Horn of Africa - Boko Haram - from Nigeria - and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb are increasingly co-ordinating their activities, the US states...

Here is the article:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/26/africa-islamist-militants-coordinating-threat

 

Africa's Islamist militants 'co-ordinate efforts in threat to continent's security'

Head of US Africa Command says Boko Haram, al-Shabaab and al-Qaida in north Africa sharing money, explosives and training

• David Smith in Johannesburg
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 26 June 2012 16.30 BST

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Here is the press release from AFRICOM, American Forces Press Service:

http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=8031&lang=0

It announces that "U.S. Africa Command's top military officer detailed existing and emerging threats from extremist organizations on the continent in a speech at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C, June 25, 2012".

It underlines that "each of the extremist organizations is worrisome in its own right", according to the general, and that "there are indications they are seeking to coordinate and synchronize their efforts".

Let's see if there is any comment from Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Somalia or Kenya on the issue the next few days...