Source: European Parliament
14.10.2024
Question for written answer E-002047/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)
Every year, the Islamist group Boko Haram systematically kills, abducts, rapes and persecutes thousands of Christians in Nigeria. Eight resolutions of the European Parliament have been adopted concerning the group[1] and 11 written questions have been submitted by MEPs on the same subject. Since 2021 the EU Agency for Asylum has referred to its two affiliates[2]. On 14 November 2024 it was classified by the US as a terrorist organisation[3]. In 2017 it was condemned by the UN Security Council, in its resolution 2349 (2017)[4]. Finally, according to the international academic literature, the EU is seeking its classification[5] as a terrorist organisation.
In 2022 the organisation in question chose its new leader, Abu Umaimata, and continues to act, undeterred[6]. Full dossier[7] published on 18 September 2024 by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). The EU decided to add Boko Haram to the list of legal organisations subject to economic sanctions (Decision 483/2014).
Even though this is a positive decision, it is not sufficient.
In view of this:
Does the Commission intend to classify Boko Haram as an (extremist) terrorist organisation?
Submitted: 14.10.2024
- [1] 2012/2550, 2013/2691, 2014/2729, 2015/2876, 2015/2520, 2016/2649, 2018/2513, and 2020/2503
- [2] https://euaa.europa.eu/country-guidance-nigeria-2021/131-boko-haram-including-jas-iswap-and-ansaru
- [3] https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/
- [4] https://press.un.org/en/2017/sc12773.doc.htm
- [5] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10246029.2013.879909
- [6] https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/boko-haram-10177
- [7] https://unidir.org/publication/boko-haram-mapping-an-evolving-armed-constellation/