Chicago, IL, May 6, 1996, (ENN)-- An increasing amount of evidence would suggest that there is an emerging Muslim insurgency in Central and Southern Africa and that world leaders should be prepared for Islamic Fundamentalist inspired terrorism and attempted destabilization of a number of governments in that region. Analysts at the Chicago-based Emergency Response & Research Institute(ERRI) have been following developments and interviewing African experts about what appears to be a rising tide of anti-American/Israeli and pro-Muslim sentiment in parts of the African continent.
Recent events in Liberia, Uganda, S. Africa and elsewhere would suggest that an "infiltration" of Muslim extremists has been going on in Central and South Africa for the past several years. While many analysts were aware of religious and political conflicts and heavy Muslim activity in North African countries like Somalia, Algeria, Chad, Libya, and Sudan, few reports of Islamic "colonization" in Middle or Southern Africa have been received.
According to longtime African analysts, the Muslim influence has been insidious in it's spread and often accomplished by "behind-the scenes" financing and arming various tribes and factions that are already in conflict. One report alleges that Islamic "advisors" from Iran and Lebanon have been providing weapons and explosives to various African groups since at least 1990, and have ingratiated themselves in the inner circles of a number of African regimes'.
A typical example of this increasingly alarming activity, cited by ERRI analysts, involves a demonstration and assault on the U.S. Embassy in Cape Town, S. Africa that took place on 05/02/96. During that siege, several hundred alleged Islamic supporters were seen burning flags and shouting, "Death to Israel" and "Death to America." Embassy guards and Cape Town police were forced to fire rubber bullets and warning shots with automatic weapons in order to repulse the crowd, which seemed intent on breaching the Embassy compound. Concerns have been raised by Israel, within the past two weeks, about an increasing Hezbollah presence in S. Africa and the possibility that they are operating Islamic extremist training camps in that region.
Another example involves the current situation in Liberia, where hundreds of Americans have been forced to evacuate the country. Marine guards at the U.S. Embassy have returned automatic weapons fire on at least two recent occasions and allegedly killed two Liberian citizens. Muslim involvement in Liberia was previously thought to almost nonexistent, but intelligence data gathered by ENN, in the past few weeks, would suggest that there may be Islamic involvement and financing for at least one of the factions there.
Radical Islamic Fundamentalism does seem to have a compelling appeal for those in developing nations. It adds the aura of an ancient religion to a promise of monetary aid and revolutionary support. In a volatile area such as Africa, even a modest investment by Islamic extremists may help them to gain valuable influence and access to the highest levels of some governments. With this access often comes land to be developed into covert training camps, passport assistance, use of "diplomatic pouches", and use of secure communications equipment.
The preliminary evidence would suggest that Islamic Fundamentalists may have established a "foothold" in central and southern Africa countries and can be expected to continue to expand their efforts on the African continent in the foreseeable future. With this incursion comes the problems seen in Mid-East in the past ten years and the turmoil associated with the violent overthrow of established governments, in favor of theocratic Islamic rule.
(c)EmergencyNet News Service, 1996, All rights reserved.
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