(This Oct. 24 story has been corrected to make clear that Atimpe is a researcher on stopping violent extremism, not an professional on extremist teams, in paragraph 25)
By David Lewis and Maxwell Akalaare Adombila
NAIROBI/ACCRA (Reuters) –
Islamist militants combating in Burkina Faso are discreetly utilizing Ghana’s north as a logistical and medical rear base to maintain their insurgency, seven sources informed Reuters, a transfer that might assist them broaden their footprint in West Africa.
The sources, who embrace Ghanaian safety officers and regional diplomats, stated Ghanaian authorities gave the impression to be largely turning a blind eye to the insurgents crossing over from neighbouring Burkina Faso to fill up on meals, gasoline and even explosives, in addition to getting injured fighters handled in hospital.
However they stated that method, whereas up to now sparing Ghana from the form of lethal Islamist assaults which have plagued its neighbours, dangers permitting militants to place down roots within the nation and recruit in some marginalised native communities.
Ghana shares a 600 km (372 mile) border with Burkina Faso, the nation on the coronary heart of an insurgency that has killed 1000’s, displaced tens of millions and, based on some consultants, turned the Sahel area into the epicentre of worldwide terrorism as factions loyal to al Qaeda and Islamic State broaden their presence.
Burkina Faso has misplaced management of over half its territory as a pro-al Qaeda group often known as JNIM gained floor. A JNIM chief this week informed French broadcaster RFI that it was aiming to push into Ghana, Togo and Benin.
Not like Benin and Togo, Ghana has not suffered a significant assault.
Boniface Gambila Adagbila, Ghana’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, informed Reuters the militants have been benefiting from porous borders and noticed Ghana as a “safe haven”, however denied options that the authorities had de-facto struck a non-aggression pact with the jihadists. He stated Ghana was working with Burkina Faso to “flush them out”.
AVOIDING DISTURBANCE TO SUPPLY LINES
Ghana, which holds elections on Dec. 7, is seen as a powerful democracy and has a detailed relationship with Western nations, particularly the UK and the U.S., which commonly reward it for its function in selling peace and safety within the area.
“The absence of real attacks on Ghanaian soil seems to result from JNIM’s calculus of not disturbing supply lines and places of rest as well as not provoking a relatively strong army,” Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of Worldwide Relations, stated in a report.
The organisation stated Ghana was tackling the menace in plenty of methods, together with joint operations with neighbours.
“Yet, to avoid escalation it also appears to have accepted de facto non-aggression with JNIM,” Clingendael stated, citing high-ranking authorities sources, who stated that disrupting the provision networks risked frightening violence.
A senior Ghanaian safety official informed Reuters that militants do use Ghana as a rear base for launching assaults elsewhere and in addition in search of medical therapy.
Nonetheless, the official, who requested to not be named as a result of sensitivity of the problem, stated they have been monitored and generally used as informants. There have been additionally circumstances of militants being handed over to Burkinabe authorities.
“We’ve arrested a lot of terrorists in the past and handed them over to Burkina,” the official stated, including that Accra most popular to deal with the circumstances discretely.
Ghana’s Info Ministry declined to remark.
After they first emerged in West Africa 20 years in the past, Islamist militants, primarily then from Algeria, operated in northern Mali and the federal government on the time adopted a casual non-aggression pact: Bamako helped negotiate freedom for Westerners kidnapped by the militants who, in return, didn’t perform assaults in Mali.
As violence unfold following a jihadi offensive in Mali in 2012, officers in Burkina Faso and Niger tried, at numerous occasions, comparable preparations. All of them collapsed because the insurgency gained power or governments fell.
Anger at heavy losses in clashes with militants has triggered coups in all three nations since 2020. Juntas that seized energy have all expelled Western army assist and turned to Russia for assist as a substitute.
Western nations have since refocused assets on efforts to shore up the northern areas of Benin, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast, which border the Sahel.
ACTIVE IN GHANA
Ghana is a centrepiece of that pivot to the coast.
When requested why the militants had up to now kept away from attacking Ghanaian targets, the Ghanaian official stated: “You won’t destroy where you sleep, would you?”
Clingendael stated that of the 40 incidents recorded in Ghana since 2015 that have been suspected of being linked to violent extremist teams, solely two concerned precise violence. The remaining concerned forces transferring via territory, attempting to recruit fighters, selecting up provides or in search of refuge.
“Violent extremists are indeed active in Ghana,” it stated.
Arms consultants have, within the current years, traced explosive expenses and detonator cords utilized in bombs focusing on U.N. and authorities troops in Mali again to mining operations in Ghana, based on a U.N. report seen by Reuters.
Aaron Atimpe, a researcher on stopping violent extremism, stated militants crossing into Ghana have been recruiting amongst native communities. “It is not just an area where they can rest and get supplies. In the process people are being radicalised and recruited.”
