Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Terrorism does remain an enduring threat in the region. In Africa, extremist groups are finding new ways to spread sectarian conflict by exploiting weak governance. Efforts by extremists, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, to establish a safe haven in Mali have met stout resistance from the international community. But the threat of extremism in Africa is not limited to this country. In Somalia, the al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group, al-Shabaab, has waged a bloody terrorist campaign in recent years. In 2012 there was a tremendous effort by the African union force, AMISOM, to re-establish peace and security in Somalia. Al-Shabaab, however, remains a potent threat to regional security. In Nigeria, Boko Haram conducts widespread killings and incites sectarian violence. (Time expired)