Boko Haram Internationalism & its Sub-Regional Security Implications

Abstract

Boko Haram is a terrorist organization that sprung up from its Maiduguri base in Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria. Between 2011 and 2015 the group’s attacks against the Nigerian State became increasingly virulent. Following its August 26, 2011 attack against the United Nations building in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital, the group evolved into a strong international terrorist organization finding support from terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab, and the Islamic State (ISIS) through its connections with Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Boko Haram has attracted increased international attention not only for its notoriety within Nigeria, but because of its transnational operations across Lake Chad and the West African sub-region. Its international connections and attacks beyond Nigeria’s borders is cause for significant concern; yet how these activities impact subregional security has been rarely explored. This paper contributes to the debate on Boko Haram internationalism and its sub-regional security implications. Its main conclusion is that Boko Haram remains not only a threat to Nigeria’s security, its transnational activities constitutes a bigger threat to regional security.