Kizimbuzi
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 31, 2013
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REVEALED: How Europe is
funding Al-Qaeda, Boko
Haram, others
 03.Aug.2014
Abiodun Awolaja With
Agency Reports
EUROPEAN funding is a
major factor for the
continued proliferation of
Al-qaeda, Boko Haram and
other terrorist networks, an
investigation by the New
York Times has found out.
By paying ransom for
kidnapped Europeans,
Europe funds al-Qaedas
global business across the
globe.
Europe has, thus, become
al-Qaedas cash cow.
It purchases arms, trains and finances its members
through these ransoms.
Ironically, even though they deny paying ransoms, it was found that European
countries paid al-Qaeda and its direct affiliates at least $ 125 million in revenue from kidnappings since 2008, of which $66 million was paid
in 2013.
This is despite numerous
agreements calling for an
end to ransom paying,
including the 2013 G8
summit, where some of the
biggest ransom payers in
Europe signed a declaration agreeing to stamp out the
practice.
Quite naturally, the foreign
ministries of Austria,
France, Germany, Italy and
Switzerland and other
countries denied paying
terrorists.
But the United States Treasury Department
was reported to have put
ransom payments at around $165 million over the same period.
These payments were through a network of proxies, and in the guise of
development aid, the report said.
Kidnapping for ransom has become todays most
significant source of
terrorist financing, said the Treasury Departments
Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence, David S.
Cohen, in a 2012 speech.
Each transaction
encourages another
transaction, he added.
While in 2003 the kidnappers received around $200,000 per hostage, now
they are netting up to $10
million, money that the
second in command of al-
Qaedas central leadership
recently described as
accounting for as much as
half of his operating
revenue.
According to reports, in
2010, a state-controlled
French company paid $40.4 million to rescue four
French nationals, while
another paid $17.7 million
to rescue two French
nationals from Togo and
Madagascar, respectively.
In the previous year,
terrorists received $12.4
million from Switzerland. In
2011, $5.1 million was
received from Spain.
funding Al-Qaeda, Boko
Haram, others
 03.Aug.2014
Abiodun Awolaja With
Agency Reports
EUROPEAN funding is a
major factor for the
continued proliferation of
Al-qaeda, Boko Haram and
other terrorist networks, an
investigation by the New
York Times has found out.
By paying ransom for
kidnapped Europeans,
Europe funds al-Qaedas
global business across the
globe.
Europe has, thus, become
al-Qaedas cash cow.
It purchases arms, trains and finances its members
through these ransoms.
Ironically, even though they deny paying ransoms, it was found that European
countries paid al-Qaeda and its direct affiliates at least $ 125 million in revenue from kidnappings since 2008, of which $66 million was paid
in 2013.
This is despite numerous
agreements calling for an
end to ransom paying,
including the 2013 G8
summit, where some of the
biggest ransom payers in
Europe signed a declaration agreeing to stamp out the
practice.
Quite naturally, the foreign
ministries of Austria,
France, Germany, Italy and
Switzerland and other
countries denied paying
terrorists.
But the United States Treasury Department
was reported to have put
ransom payments at around $165 million over the same period.
These payments were through a network of proxies, and in the guise of
development aid, the report said.
Kidnapping for ransom has become todays most
significant source of
terrorist financing, said the Treasury Departments
Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence, David S.
Cohen, in a 2012 speech.
Each transaction
encourages another
transaction, he added.
While in 2003 the kidnappers received around $200,000 per hostage, now
they are netting up to $10
million, money that the
second in command of al-
Qaedas central leadership
recently described as
accounting for as much as
half of his operating
revenue.
According to reports, in
2010, a state-controlled
French company paid $40.4 million to rescue four
French nationals, while
another paid $17.7 million
to rescue two French
nationals from Togo and
Madagascar, respectively.
In the previous year,
terrorists received $12.4
million from Switzerland. In
2011, $5.1 million was
received from Spain.
