Terror groups and the exploitation of turmoil

Plans are underway for an assault on the final strongholds of the group although there is the risk that al Shabaab will simply regroup elsewhere if such an assault proves successful.

While there has been promising progress in the ongoing efforts against extremism, al Qaeda is believed to be making some gains by exploiting instability in other regions.

Another offshoot organisation 'al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb' (AQIM) is apparently supporting the Tuareg rebellion in Mali, where half the country has fallen under its control.

Tuaregs, a Saharan tribal people, have a nomadic range over land that stretches from Libya and Algeria to the north, Mali to the west and Niger to the south.

Muammar Gaddafi reportedly paid Tuareg mercenaries to support his regime, however when his forces lost the battle in Libya, the mercenaries and their weapons returned to northern Mali.

A rebellion began within weeks of their return, seriously challenging the capacity of the Mali government forces to recapture the lost territory.

There are reports of several Islamist groups operating within Mali that are reliant on AQIM for supplies and other forms of support.

Nigeria, which borders Niger, is a significant African nation which is also struggling with a radical Islamist group 'Boko Haram'.

This organisation was known for its attacks on Christians in particular, and for carrying out bank robberies.

However, In recent months Boko Haram has become an al Qaeda copycat, launching dozens of attacks killing hundreds of people.

It is believed that Boko Haram made its transformation under the guidance of AQIM operatives. History shows that this will lead to increasingly brutal acts of terrorism.

What is even more concerning are the reports that al Qaeda is now operating within Syria and attempting to gain access to weapons caches that include chemical and biological weapons.