Terrorism Financing in North Africa

Abstract

Financial resources and funding methods of the North African terrorist organizations have been largely influenced by their independence and the change from a centralized organization to a decentralized network of autonomous groups and cells. Although often associated with drug trafficking, this is an indirect source of funds for the groups, but kidnapping foreigners for ransom has been particularly lucrative for them. In the course of these operations, there is increased cooperation between organizations. One of the problems is that kidnapping for ransom is not specifically addressed in any of the terrorist conventions. In order to combat this phenomenon, the international community will need to work together collectively, as well as at the national level, to strengthen the prohibitions against such activity.