If We Do Nothing, AQIM Will Surely Expand

By African Bulletin on July 6, 2011

The interior ministers of the six largest EU countries – Germany, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, and their U.S. counterpart have met in Madrid

and made no secret of their concern regarding “the development of the Libyan army weapons in the hands of terrorists.” The Spanish minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, in referring to Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), said it was “urgent” to curb the development of the jihadist organization and its equipment.  Indeed, all participants in the meeting have expressed their fears of the AQIM expansion because of the Libyan crisis. Portions of the Qaddafi’s armament stocks are ending in the vast Sahel region and greatly benefits to AQIM.  That is why the U .S Secretary Napolitano has stated   the importance of working with global partners to strengthen border security, prevent the exploitation of international borders by terrorists and transnational criminals, and combat illicit trafficking.  This was the case, last June,  when the Nigerian army has discovered by its borders, more than a half  ton of military explosives  and detonators abandoned  by Libyan soldiers, and according to some sources, AQIM has acquired heavy weapons which are likely to be surface to air missiles from the Jamahiriya.  All this armament acquisition will certainly encourage the terrorist organization activities, as it is reported that AQIM has recently established bases in Senegal and Nigeria, extending its influence outside of the habitual areas of Algeria, Mauritania, Niger and Mali. This alarming situation brought the Spanish Minister of interior, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba to raise a red flag when he voiced that “If we do nothing, AQIM will surely take the opportunity to expand and therefore the risks for Europe and the United States may increase”. Thus, the interior ministers of the G6 have recommended a joint meeting with their counterparts of Foreign Affairs and the United States about the Sahel. They will also address the African Union to establish a joint strategy in combating terrorism.