ISIS in Africa Appointment of New ´Governor of Lake Chad’ signifies admission of failure, new offensives coming
Islamic State in Syria (ISIS) and Al Qaeda most powerful affiliate in Africa, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram have appointed Amir Goni Maina as the new ´Governor of the Lake Chad.’
The replacement is an admission of failure of past efforts to advance its violence activities and territorial ambitions in the region. The new ‘Governor’ is expected to prove his prowess on the field by launching major or coordinated spectacular attacks.
Goni Maina replaced Amir Baba Kaka. Baba Kaka was recently sacked as the Governor in a massive jihadist leadership shake up after he escaped an assassination attempt during mutiny by his own commanders.
David Otto, a Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Specialist, who confirmed the new developments noted that the Shura council and AZWAJ advisors/sponsors from Mali and Libya accused had Baba Kaka of failing to command and control unit commanders for effective terror fight against the militaries of the Lake Chad Basin.
Kaka was also accused of severe leadership weakness which prevented him from aborting ground and aerial coordinated onslaught against jihadist strongholds in the axis of the Lake Chad by the Nigerian Army, the Chadian Army and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) troops.
Before his latest appointment, Amir Goni Maina was the Chief Judge of Boko Haram /ISWAP faction. He replaced Muhammad Shuwa, after he was eliminated in a Nigerian Army and Air-Force military bombardment.
A new Chief Judge, known as Amir Malumma was appointed to take over from Goni Maina. During the early ISWAP Leadership of Abu Musab Al Barnawi and veteran Mamman Nur, Amir Goni Maina held the position of the Governor of the Lake Chad but was a casualty when things hit the fan in Barnawi era which led to the ascension of Ba Idrissa (also killed by his commanders).
The rise of Ba Lawan as the new Wali of ISWAP has led to the ushering of Albarnawi influence within the ISWAP faction.
The recent appointment of a new ISWAP Wali — Amir Abubakar Lawan has been marked by a massive power consolidation of bringing back former commanders loyal to the Albarnawi faction to lead in strategic position.
As the fate of the notorious commander and ´ex-governor of the Lake Chad’ is sealed, there is a higher possibility that Baba Kaka, may likely join the independent renegade jihadist groups of Bako Borgozo, Modu Sulum, Kannayi and Zainnami with no links to either Shekau JAS faction or ISWAP Ba Lawan faction.
Mr Otto noted that “the rise of the Islamic State and its global influence on regional jihadist affiliates has destroyed the stability of local jihadist groups like Boko Haram into perpetual confusion. Jihadist groups in the Lake Chad and Northern Nigeria have lost any ideological credits with local communities and have been focused purely on power control by terror and criminal activities for survival. Even the current structure will not last as regional forces – Nigeria – Chad – Niger Republic – Cameroon and to some extend Benin Republic apply soft and hard measures in challenging circumstances.”