Today marks 25 years since the 11 September, 2001, terrorist attacks that resulted in the deaths of 2,977 people. The aftermath of the attacks has seen a significant increase in global terrorism, with various organisations splintering, rebranding, and spreading across borders. The impact of 9/11 has been felt worldwide, including in Africa, where parts of the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin are now confronting jihadist insurgencies, kidnapping, and criminal violence.
The roots of modern terrorism can be traced back to the early 1990s, when individuals like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and his nephew, Ramzi Yousef, were part of the wider international network of Islamist militants emerging from the Afghan jihad. In 1995, Yousef masterminded the Bojinka plot, a plan to plant bombs aboard twelve US-bound commercial airliners and detonate them over the Pacific or South China Sea. The plot was uncovered after a fire broke out in Manila's Doña Josefa Apartments, where Yousef and his accomplices were staying.
The Bojinka plot was a significant intelligence breakthrough for the US, leading to the identification of KSM as a key figure in al-Qaeda. In 2002, Abu Zubaydah, another high-value al-Qaeda operative, was captured in Faisalabad, Pakistan, and during his interrogation, he revealed that Mukhtar, a name linked to KSM, was one of his many noms de guerre. This information led to KSM's capture in Rawalpindi in 2003, and he was subsequently transferred to the CIA's secret detention facility.
KSM's capture provided important intelligence about al-Qaeda and its network worldwide. However, his interrogation was marred by controversy, with the use of coercive techniques, including waterboarding, rectal hydration, and rectal feeding. Today, KSM remains in US custody at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, while Ramzi Yousef is serving a life sentence without parole at ADX Florence in Colorado.
The legacy of 9/11 has also been marked by the human cost of the wars that followed. According to Brown University's Costs of War Project, more than 940,000 people died directly from violence in the major post-9/11 war zones. The impact of terrorism has also been felt in Africa, where governments are struggling to contain jihadist insurgencies and other forms of violence.
Understanding the forces that shape terrorism is crucial to defeating it. Terrorists are human beings, shaped by ideology, grievance, money, opportunity, political manipulation, and social networks. Governments must confront the uncomfortable truth that they sometimes contribute to the problem by manipulating violent movements for short-term strategic advantage.
As the world reflects on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, it is clear that terrorism remains a significant threat. The evolution of terrorism, including the spread of jihadist insurgencies in Africa, highlights the need for a continued and coordinated global response to address this complex and multifaceted threat.
Key points
- The 9/11 attacks have had a lasting impact on global terrorism, with the threat evolving and spreading worldwide, including in Africa.
- The Bojinka plot and the capture of KSM were significant intelligence breakthroughs in the fight against terrorism.
- Understanding the forces that shape terrorism is crucial to defeating it, and governments must confront the uncomfortable truth that they sometimes contribute to the problem.
