U.S. terrorism concerns shift to Africa

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WASHINGTON, June 27 (UPI) -- The North African branch of al-Qaida, Nigerian militant group Boko Haram and Somalia's al-Shabaab may be collaborating, a U.S. official said.

Each of the groups has been blamed for militant attacks in their areas of operation recently. U.S. Army Gen. Carter Ham, head of the U.S. Africa Command, said the groups are starting to share money and cross train in an effort to coordinate their push for ultraconservative Islamic rule in the region.

"Each of these organizations is, by itself, a dangerous and worrisome threat," he was quoted by Bloomberg News as saying. "But what really concerns me is that the three organizations are seeking to coordinate and synchronize their efforts."

Rick Nelson, a counter-terrorism expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the news service the groups "are not threatening the U.S. homeland," however.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said most top-level counter-terrorism meetings have focused on terrorism in the north of Africa.

"From a pure counter-terrorism perspective, Africa is a growing concern for sure," said Nelson.