VOLUME VIII, ISSUE 35 u SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 IN THIS ISSUE: BRIEFS.................................................................................................................................. 1 IS SYRIA COOPERATING MILITARILY WITH TURKEY AGAINST THE PKK? By Wladimir van Wilgenburg...................................................................................3 STRANGE CASE OF SUSPECTED LITHUANIAN SUICIDE BOMBER COMPLICATED BY ALLEGED ROLE OF SECURITY SERVICES Al-Azhar Shaykh Dr. Ahmad al-Tayeb By Raffaello Pantucci...................................................................................................5 SALAFISTS CHALLENGE AL-AZHAR FOR IDEOLOGICAL SUPREMACY IN EGYPT Terrorism Monitor is a publication By Hani Nasira........................................................................................................7 of The Jamestown Foundation. The Terrorism Monitor is designed to be read by policy- makers and other specialists yet be accessible to the general public. The opinions expressed within are solely those of the NIGERIAN SECURITY COMMANDERS DISMISSED AFTER BOKO authors and do not necessarily HARAM MILITANTS BLAST THEIR WAY OUT OF PRISON reflect those of The Jamestown Foundation. Threats made in July by the new chief of northern Nigeria’s Boko Haram sect were fulfilled in recent days with a mass prison breakout of incarcerated sect members and what appears to be a series of killings of security personnel by Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of this or any motorcycle-riding gunmen. Imam Abubakr Shekau warned of a new jihad Jamestown publication is strictly by Boko Haram members seeking revenge for the ruthless repression of their prohibited by law. movement in July 2009 by security services angered by Boko Haram attacks on their posts and personnel (Ansar al-Mujahideen, July 11; see also Terrorism Monitor Brief, July 22). The September 7 escape of over 700 prisoners in Bauchi Prison was apparently inspired by a Boko Haram pledge that their members would not spend the Eid al- Fitr holiday in prison. Eyewitness accounts told of a daring assault by a handful of militants that went on for two hours without relief from security forces. According to these accounts, the militants had cut or shaved their habitual long beards to better infiltrate prayer gatherings close to the prison. AK-47 assault For comments or questions about rifles were concealed under their babanrigas, a loose flowing top worn over our publications, please send an trousers. On a signal the militants began their attack on the prison gates while email to [email protected], or trying to assure terrified residents they were on “a mission” and were not there contact us at: to attack civilians. Some who were not close to the prison initially thought the 1111 16th St. NW, Suite #320 gunfire was firecrackers set off to celebrate the Eid. One witness said, “There was Washington, DC • 20036 Tel: (202) 483-8888 nothing to make anyone suspicious of them. They wore normal dress and did not Fax: (202) 483-8337 sport their trademark long beards. But by the time they sprang into action, it was Copyright ©2009 TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TERRORISM MONITOR, VISIT http://www.jamestown.org TerrorismMonitor Volume VIII u Issue 35 u September 16, 2010 clear that they were well trained. The guns looked very president made clear what he wanted from the security sophisticated and they handled them with expertise like services, saying, “My expectations are that our armed combatants” (Vanguard [Lagos], September 11). Four forces and security agencies should be proactive. We individuals, including a policeman, a soldier and two must employ intelligence to nip crises in the bud even civilians, were killed in the attack (Nigerian Tribune, before it can occur” (Vanguard, September 12). September 12). As many as 759 prisoners escaped during the assault, of whom 123 were Boko Haram members Jonathan broke the traditional stranglehold of awaiting trial on charges stemming from the July 2009 northern Muslim tribes on the military command by violence. appointing Major General Onyeabo Azubike Ihejirika of the Eastern Ibo tribe as the new Chief of Army Staff. The Boko Haram unit that carried out the assault Ihejirika is the first Ibo to lead the military since the had clearly planned to take advantage of the relaxed Ibo-supported Biafran secession war of the 1960s. The atmosphere during the Eid festivities, striking just as the appointment was made with wide commendation from guards were preparing to break their fast. According to southern Nigerian governors and politicians (Vanguard, Bauchi Governor Isa Yuguda, “All of us were caught September 10). unaware by the attackers because they came at the time nobody was expecting, considering that we are in the The prison breakout was preceded by a series of killings holy month of Ramadan, when all true Muslims are of policemen in northern Nigeria by motorcycle-riding expected to be fasting and not engage in anything that gunmen. The attacks that killed six policemen in two could lead to the shedding of blood.” months were initially blamed on armed robbers (Next, August 26; Nigerian Tribune, August 27; AFP, August Following the prison break, alarm spread throughout 27; Reuters, August 30). the northern states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Kano, where 25 Boko Haram suspects are being held The use of AK-47 assault rifles by the militants raised at the Kano Central Prison. The Kano Sallah (Eid al- concerns over the flow of arms into the northern region. Fitr) celebrations were marked by a show of force by The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union security personnel and a military convoy including a of Nigeria accused security services of overseeing illegal tank accompanying Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau arms imports through the ports. He stated, “Last week, to the Kano Central Mosque (Next, September 12). The members of Boko Haram, armed with AK47 rifles, governor of Bauchi State pledged a door to door search attacked the Bauchi prison and its environs. How would be conducted to find all Boko Haram suspects did they get the arms? You go to Niger Delta, come (Next [Lagos], September 13). Security at the Gombe to Lagos and other parts of the country, illegal arms State Prison was also intensified in expectation of further are everywhere and in the wrong hands” (Vanguard, attacks (Vanguard, September 10). September 12). Meanwhile in the north, security officials recently seized 52 AK-47 rifles, 1,700 rounds of President Goodluck Jonathan used the mass escape as ammunition and $32,000 in cash being smuggled from an opportunity to make sweeping changes in Nigeria’s Chad to the flashpoint city of Jos, where thousands of military and police leadership, sacking Chief of Army people have been killed in sectarian violence in recent Staff Major General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (who years (AfrikNews, August 18). was in New York on official duties at the time), Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Onovo, Chief of Defense AL-QAEDA IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA Staff Air Marshal Paul Dike, Naval Chief Vice Admiral CLASHES WITH YEMENI MILITARY AT LAWDAR Ishaya Ibrahim and the Director General of the State Security Service Afakriya Gadzama. Heavy fighting between alleged al-Qaeda forces and government troops near the town of Lawdar in Yemen’s Minister of Defense Prince Adetokunbo Kayode insisted Abyan governorate broke out on the weekend of August the changes were not dismissals, pointing out the two 21-22 following a deadly ambush by AQAP fighters, year terms of the security commanders had expired claiming a reported eight to 11 soldiers and at least 14 in August and the president was merely exercising militants (Reuters, August 22; Sep26.net, August 21; his prerogative to appoint new leaders (Vanguard, AFP August 22). Yemeni military forces were dispatched September 10; Nigerian Compass, September 10). The to the district to reestablish the government’s writ. 2 TerrorismMonitor Volume VIII u Issue 35 u September 16, 2010 Al-Qaeda militants and members of the secessionist he had been assigned by al-Qaeda commander Ali Alwi Southern Mobility movement were given 24 hours to al-Saqqaf to carry out a suicide bombing in Lawdar leave Lawdar or the houses they were staying in would (Yemen Observer, September 1). be bombarded. Following a mass flight of civilians and the expiration of the ultimatum, more fighting broke Fighting erupted again on August 31 in which another out on August 22, as militants resisted their expulsion. 12 militants were reported killed. The alleged leader of Defense Minister General Muhammad Nasir Ahmad al-Qaeda forces in the district, Salah Ali Abdullah Al- Ali was reported to be leading the security operations in Damani, was arrested on September 5, though sources Lawdar District personally (AFP, August 22). vary as to whether he was captured in a night-time raid or seized at a checkpoint (26Sep.net, September 5). Tribal mediation apparently failed in the conflict around Lawdar, with fatal consequences for one of those By September 7, AQAP fighters were reported to have involved. A leader of the al-Fadl tribe, Shaykh Hussein largely, but not entirely, pulled out of Lawdar and were Saleh Majdal, was assassinated along with his two heading to nearby Ma’rib and Shabwah governorates, bodyguards in an attack on the evening of September both current hotbeds of anti-government militancy. The 4. The shaykh was described as leading the mediation director-general of Lawdar District, Ahmad Ahmad between security forces and al-Qaeda