Boko Haram leader reappears in new video, says “his end is near”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau appeared on video for the first time in more than a year on Thursday, March 24 rejecting rumors about his death but appearing to signal his time in charge of the Nigerian jihadist group may be coming to an end, AFP reports.

In a message that contained none of the defiant bluster, taunts and denunciation of political leaders of previous videos and will likely be interpreted as an admission of defeat, the dejected-looking Shekau declared in the Hausa language: "For me the end has come."

"This is a message of greeting and joy for you to see my face," said Shekau, who in March 2015 had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in an audio message, AFP says.

A military source in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in northeast Nigeria, told AFP: "Watching Shekau in this video, the message is clear: the game is over.

Unlike messages from the Islamists at the end of 2014 and start of 2015, which were slickly edited and closely resembled those of the Islamic State group, the new video was poorly shot.

It was also posted on YouTube rather than via Twitter accounts linked to IS supporters and websites used by fellow jihadists, which had become Boko Haram's preferred medium of communication.

The bearded Shekau, who looked thin, spoke to his followers in front of a lime green background, with the Boko Haram black flag superimposed in crude graphics, AFP says.

He also makes no mention of the Islamic State or Islamic State in West Africa province (ISWAP) and uses the group's original name "Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad" or "People committed to the propagation of the Prophet's teachings and jihad".

Some analysts cast doubt on the authenticity of the video, pointing out that Shekau's face is dark and questioning why the old Boko Haram insignia is being used instead of that of the Islamic State.

"If the message is legitimate it does raise some interesting questions," Africa security specialist Ryan Cummings said. "It could signal perhaps a change in leadership or even focus for Boko Haram."