1. In the long version of the audio released in Hausa before his death on 18 May, Abubakar Shekau, the leader of #JASDJ #BokoHaram, gives interesting bits about the events that were leading to his ultimate defeat. He also sheds light on more long term issues. A thread…
2. Shekau confirms that ISWAP (never named) entered Sambisa, and that some fighting took place. He also insists that ISWAP flipped over a number of JAS members.
3. He notes that ISWAP was pressing him to pledge allegiance to Abu Ibrahim, the current Islamic State Caliph, adding that they promised him he would be acknowledged as wali of “the whole African continent” if he did.
4. What can one make of this attempt to negotiate a solution and end fitna? Did ISWAP really believe it was a possibility? Was it just a show? Were they trying to look good to the IS, which was never happy about fitna in Borno? Were they trying to look cool to other JAS members?
5. Interestingly, Shekau does not distance himself from the IS Caliph. He insists once more the Caliph was not well informed, that ISWAP was manipulating info. Maybe with ISWAP at the door, he was trying one last trick: convince the Caliph of his good faith.
6. Shekau also goes over the history of jihad in Borno… First, just like Abu Musab in his recent audio, he mentions ghanima, war booty.
7. Ghanima is a key question for both ISWAP and JAS, as they do not pay salaries – the income of fighters comes primarily from ghanima. Debates (and more) about the fair sharing of ghanima have been haunting BH.
8. Shekau’s difficulty in openly distancing himself from the Caliph is very interesting. I think it confirms that the idea of the Caliphate (with a Caliph who comes from the bloodline of the Prophet, as he insists) has a lot of appeal among jihadis.
9. Shekau reiterates a fundamental of his beef with ISWAP. People living under control of the Nigerian state cannot be Muslims. They are not even apostates. They never were Muslims to begin with. They are kafir and can thus be attacked and enslaved, just like the military.
10. Shekau also goes over the history of his relationship to the global jihad, Al Qaeda and then IS. He insists that he paid allegiance to Al Qaeda (so probably Ben Laden?), something I had heard also in interviews.
11. As @Humangle notes, he mentions 50 million Nairas received from AQ – probably the 200,000 euros that AQIM leader Droukdel ask be sent to Nigeria in a July 2010 correspondence. It is now confirmed the money was received.
12. Also, the money caused a bit of stir, though it is not clear why. In his book, @bokostan mentions the money may have been a reward for involvement of Nigerian jihadis in an AQIM hostage op in Mauritania.
13. He also says that some AQIM officials were not happy that the money went out to JAS (a distant organisation?). Maybe also the Nigerians involved in the operation, who were much closer to AQ and AQIM than Shekau was, had other views about how to use the money in Nigeria.
14. Shekau mentions unidentified people who wanted to use the money for matters of religion. He probably means that they thought that in Nigeria, it was still the time of da’wa, not the time of jihad.
15. Shekau insists a lot on an important but little known figure, Uqba (Ibrahim Uqba al Muhajir). It was Uqba that he « used to send to Mali » (so, several times).
16. Uqba was a Maiduguri man, a deportee from Saudi Arabia. According to interviews, two of his brothers died in the Kannama episode of 2003. He trained in Somalia before 2009.
17. According to interviews, Uqba created the Fallujah training camp near Maiduguri and was an instructor there. And then he created a major camp in Sambisa, which bears his name.
18. Shekau also seems to mention a “brother” who came from Yemen to Mali to bring a letter from AQ saying AQ was in trouble and that Shekau should do what he thinks best – and so Shekau "forgot about Al Qaeda". Maybe this was AQ’s polite way to cut links with Shekau…
19. Shekau also discusses the relationship to the IS. He confirms for instance that he submitted a letter explaining his creed and that he was approved by the Caliph.
20. He mentions another episode: Arab visitors in Sambisa, explaining the value of Western education, and Shekau rejecting that, insisting on the content of Nigerian national anthem & pledge (as shirk). Time is not clear. Probably IS, not that of AQ.
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