US report salutes Maghreb counter-terror efforts

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) represents the main terrorist threat in the Greater Sahara and Sahel region, according to a terrorism report recently released by the US State Department.

The Middle East and North Africa overview in the 2009 Country Reports on Terrorism, released to the public on August 5th, found that AQIM was mainly active out of the north-eastern part of Algeria and northern Mali. Al-Qaeda members moved across the Arab Maghreb and Sahel region – especially between Mali, Niger, and Mauritania to mount attacks.

Ransoms for the release of kidnapped foreign hostages provided AQIM with its main source of funding, the report noted. Although governments in the region have tried in the past to confront AQIM, they still need foreign support in building military and law enforcement capabilities, the analysis said.

AQIM operations along "under-governed borders", however, have "posed a challenge" for state responses, Ambassador-at-Large Daniel Benjamin, the co-ordinator for counter-terrorism at the State Department, explained at an August 5th press conference in Washington.

Benjamin called on states in the Arab Maghreb region and around the world to adopt a "no-concession policy" with kidnappers so that their funding flow can be stopped.

Operations by Algerian security services and public rejection of terrorism "have reduced al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)'s overall effectiveness during the past two years", the new report said.

"Algerian security forces have done a very good job [in defending] Algeria proper and as a result, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is pushing to the south in the Sahel: Mauritania, Niger and Mali… increasing the number of attacks there," National Counterterrorism Centre deputy director Russ Travers pointed out at the press conference.

The report noted a decrease in the number of high-profile terrorist attacks in Algeria in 2009, although low-level terrorist activities continued in rural areas in the form of roadside bombs and ambushes laid for security forces.

The document stressed that Algeria's Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which now calls itself al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), does not have any popular support.

As a result of declining numbers, AQIM has been hard at work trying to win the media war, as witnessed by the organisation's ability to conduct an attack and claim responsibility via communiqué within hours.

The report stressed the need for Algerian security forces to adapt continuously to AQIM's changing tactics.

Algeria's efforts to confront terrorist activities were also noted by the report. Algiers recently hosted a meeting of military chiefs of staff from Mali, Libya, Mauritania, and Niger to develop a regional counterterrorism strategy and establish a regional command centre in Tamanrasset. In addition, the Algerian government instituted a programme to hire 100,000 new police and gendarmes, reinforce the borders, augment security at airports, and increase the overall security presence in major cities.

AQIM poses the main terrorist threat to Mauritania, analysts found. The report reviewed a number of attacks that targeted foreign interests and nationals in 2009, the most prominent of which was the suicide attack near the headquarters of the French Embassy in Nouakchott.

Regarding Morocco, the document stated that the government pursued a comprehensive counterterrorism approach that emphasised neutralising existing terrorist cells through traditional intelligence work, pre-emptive security measures and collaboration with regional and international partners.

Building on popular rejection of terrorism, the Moroccan government has worked to reduce extremism, dissuade individuals from becoming radicalised and promote moderate and peaceful religious viewpoints.

Morocco also addressed terrorist financing and money laundering operations through the Financial Intelligence Unit created in April 2009.

Moroccan authorities were able to dismantle a number of terrorist cells. However, the report added, the mere presence of these groups stresses the need to continue to be cautious and vigilant.

The report noted that the Government of Tunisia placed a high priority on combating extremism and terrorism. In addition to using security and law enforcement measures, the Tunisian government also used social and economic programmes, including health care and public education, to ameliorate the conditions that terrorists exploit for recruitment and propaganda purposes.

As to Libya, the US Department of State report noted that the Libyan government continued to co-operate with the United States and international community to combat terrorism and terrorist financing after Tripoli's decision to renounce terrorism and its weapons of mass destruction programs.

The report reviewed statements by Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure on July 20th, 2009 in which he confirmed that Libya, Algeria, and Mali planned to co-ordinate military and intelligence efforts to fight security threats linked to AQIM in the Trans-Sahara region.

The report noted Libya's reconciliation and rehabilitation effort sponsored by the Kadhafi Development Foundation to convince the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), previously affiliated to al-Qaeda, to renounce violence and terrorism. Six leading members of LIFG, held in the Abu Salim prison, issued a document renouncing violence and claiming to adhere to a more sound Islamic theology.

The report said that LIFG's 417-page document, "Revisionist Studies of the Concepts of Jihad, Verification, and Judgment of People", gave detailed interpretations of the "ethics and morals to jihad". It included the rejection of violence as a means to change the political situations in Muslim majority countries whose leaders are Muslim, and condemned the killing of women, children, the elderly, clerics, and the like. Reducing the notion of jihad to fighting with the sword is an error, it added.

The US State Department report added that Libyan authorities released about 144 former LIFG members and 60 members of other jihadist groups from prison after completing their rehabilitation program.

Finally, the report also indicated that the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) has been successful in building the capacity of Sahara and Sahel region countries and co-ordinating efforts, despite political setbacks over the years caused by coup d'états, ethnic rebellions, and extra-constitutional actions.

The TSCTP is a multi-faceted, multi-year strategy designed to combat violent extremism, and marginalize terrorist organisations by strengthening individual-country and regional counterterrorism capabilities, enhancing and institutionalizing co-operation among the region's security and intelligence organisations, promoting democratic governance, and discrediting terrorist ideology.

The overall goals of the initiative are to enhance the indigenous capacities of governments in the pan-Sahel (Mauritania, Mali, Chad, and Niger, as well as Nigeria, Senegal, and Burkina Faso); to confront the challenge posed by terrorist organisations in the trans-Sahara; and to facilitate co-operation between those countries and US partners in the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia).

Source: Magharebia

Morocco targets terror financing

Morocco is toughening its laws to prevent any connection between money laundering and terrorism.

A bill now under consideration by parliament also honours Morocco's adherence to international agreements, Justice Minister Mohamed Naciri said on December 29th.

To prevent the use of the national financial system for criminal purposes, the proposed legislation includes a new mechanism to monitor suspicious bank accounts. Banks will be required to show vigilance with regard to transactions conducted by or to people from countries considered high risk in terms of money laundering and terrorist financing.

The goal is to equip Morocco with a comprehensive law on organised crime, according to MP Mohamed Benabdessadek. There are already scattered provisions in various laws, but this initiative specifically targets financing of groups or individuals for the purpose of terrorist acts, he said.

The current Morocco money laundering law was adopted in 2007.a A team attached to the prime minister's office was created in 2009 to gather information on money laundering networks and identify individuals and organisations suspected of the offence and the covers that they use. The Counterterrorism Law was passed a few days after the deadly attacks of 16 May 2003 in Casablanca.

The bill was introduced last October as part of efforts to clean up public life as a whole by revising laws on money laundering to adapt to the new challenges of the fight against this crime, which has had a serious impact on the national economy, according to MP Omar Sentissi. He also said that this crime reached dangerous proportions and financed terrorist operations that threaten stability and public safety.

Sentissi called for the provisions of the law to be implemented in a manner consistent with human rights by guaranteeing suspects fair trials with no abuses of authority.

The first draft of the law states that the terrorism financing is an act "involving the gathering of property or funds, even if this is done in a lawful manner, with the intention of using them in an act of terrorism or in the knowledge that they will be used wholly or in part to this end by an individual or an organised group".

Morocco's legal arsenal needs to be in line with international regulations, according to political observer Mohamed Chemlali. In particular, he said co-operation over efforts to tackle organised crime has become an international necessity. He says that owing to Morocco's location within the Sahel region, the country has to deal with all sorts of trafficking that sustain terrorism.

"It is therefore necessary to boost not just the legislation, but also regional and international co-operation," he asserted.

This content was commissioned for Magharebia.com.

Source: Magharebia

Netherlands Concerned about Al Qaida in North Africa

The Netherlands is concerned about the increasing influence of Al Qaida in North Africa. The Hague wants to step up its partnership with Algeria against terrorism, Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen told the Lower House on Friday.

As far as international terrorism is concerned, "the most important threat unabatedly comes from Islamic terrorist groupings including Al Qaida," according to Verhagen. "Al Qaida's influence has unfortunately increased in the border area of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the past year." However, "the threat has increased specifically in the North Africa/Sahel region," Verhagen adds.

Elementary for success in Afghanistan "is a clear approach by Pakistan". Media and experts say that the Pakistani government is too conciliatory and negotiates from a position of weakness, according to the minister. "The fear exists that a safe haven for terrorists will thereby again be permitted in the tribal areas. The Dutch government shares this concern."

In North Africa, the linking up of the Groupe Salafiste pour la Predication et le Combat (GSPC) with Al Qaida has led to the emergence of the AQIM terrorist group. This has drawn attention to itself recently via some bloody attacks. "Organisations like AQIM also have network contacts in countries in Western Europe, and recent arrests in Austria and Germany show they also form a potential threat to the Netherlands."

Due to the regional mutual links between North African countries, Verhagen considers it "important to work closely with countries like Morocco and Algeria to reduce terrorism in the region and the influence of AQIM." Cooperation with Morocco has been stepped up in the past year. "The Netherlands is now in talks with Algeria to arrive at a similar partnership arrangement." This focuses on tackling radicalisation via the Internet and in prisons, and tackling the financing of terrorism, document fraud and detection of explosives.

In general, Verhagen places "great value on tackling the underlying factors" that contribute to extremism and terrorism. For this, he has three policy goals. These are "fostering the dialogue between cultures, encouraging reforms in Islamic/Arabic countries and removing the negative perceptions of the West in the Islamic/Arabic world, among other means by using public diplomacy." In combating terrorism, "respect for human rights is paramount."

Meanwhile, Verhagen is working on an anti-terrorism institute to be based in the Netherlands. CDA MP Coruz requested this in a Lower House motion in April. According to Verhagen, "the government will carry out further research to achieve this. I hope to be able to tell you more about this within a few months," he wrote to the House.

Source: NISNEWS

US workshop in Jordan builds support to battle money laundering

The U.S. government organized a workshop in Jordan to teach officials from the Arab countries how to detect and investigate the smuggling of money.

The U.S. has been working with Jordan and other Arab countries to ensure that banking institutions are subject to appropriate oversight and that they have effective programs in place to prevent money-laundering and terrorist financing.

Participants, including representatives from Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Tunisia and Yemen, examined anti-money laundering standards used by the Financial Action Task Force, a Paris-based inter-government body set up in 1989 by the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

This week, U.S. federal prosecutors said two NY residents were indicted on charges of trying to smuggle $500,000 (euro323,000) from the U.S. to Jordan.

Authorities said a grand jury in Hartford, Connecticut returned an indictment charging 35-year-old Hassan Abuzaitoun and 33-year-old Mohammad Alazzam with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash from the United States. Both are naturalized U.S. citizens from Jordan residing in Yonkers, New York.

Jordanian authorities have often asserted that Jordan was free of money laundering because of its strict monetary regulations and practices.

In 2004, three different groups of families of suicide bombing victims in Israel filed suits in a Brooklyn, N.Y. federal court against Jordan's largest financial institution _ Arab Bank _ alleging that it moved donations from Saudi Arabia to militant Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The bank denied the allegation. It later decided to close down its New York branch saying it was pursuing its strategy to focus on operations in the Arab world and Europe.

http://www.amlosphere.com/america/legislation/us-workshop-in-jordan-builds-support-to-battle-money-laundering.html

Morocco tackles money laundering and financial crime

As part of the fight against terrorism, Morocco has begun tackling money laundering and other financial crime by approving a new law early this month to curb the phenomenon.

Zouheir Chorfi, Director of the Treasury and External Finance, told Magharebia that money laundering has a negative impact on the country’s economy and is threatening its stability by enabling organised financial crime to take root. He explained that Morocco’s full range of financial services combined with lax oversight has made the country a favourite location for criminals seeking to stockpile money earned through fraud.

The King’s Public Prosecutor at the Supreme Court, Moulay Taib Cherkaoui, says that Morocco must now protect itself on an international level to avoid becoming a haven for international mafias seeking opportunities to settle in the country. The northern region's cannabis trade and illegal immigration make it a hotspot for laundered money.

Abdelhamid Awad, chairman of the Group for Unity and Equality, welcomed the adoption of the new law, saying it will help stop people from illegally amassing large amounts of money.

Deputy Habib Choubani, chairman of the Group for Justice and Development in parliament, shared this view and said that the law is a matter of great importance. He added that the new law is vital to the fight against terrorism: "Terrorist groups must be tackled. We need to close the net on the terrorist and drug networks."

Deputy Bouchra El Khyari also hailed the law: "This is a first for Morocco, which has lagged well behind other countries in this area. Sixteen other Arab states already have laws against money laundering."

Cherkaoui explained to magharebia that the law against money laundering forbids the use of the financial system for illegal purposes and the transfer of funds gained illegally through business or other financial activities. He said that the crackdown on money laundering will involve a number of institutions, including lending institutions, banks and offshore holding companies, finance companies, insurance and reinsurance companies, auditors, external accountants and tax consultants.

A new unit attached to the prime minister’s office with wide-ranging powers will be put in charge of investigating money laundering gangs, tracking down people and organisations suspected of the crime and exposing the cover-ups they use to disguise their activities. It will set up a database on money laundering operations, be responsible for ordering investigations and inspections, and will also monitor the financial activities of criminals and gangs.

The law provides for prison sentences and large fines. Individuals convicted under the new law will face two to five years in prison, and a fine of 20,000-100,000 dirhams. Corporations knowingly participating in financial crimes will face fines of 500,000 to 3 million dirhams, in addition to penalties which could be imposed on their bosses and other agents involved. The law will double prison sentences and fines for repeat offences or in cases where crimes have been committed on a habitual basis by an organised group.

http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/03/29/feature-02