United States/Nigeria – The United States state department is shortly expected to designate the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Harem a foreign terrorist organisation. It will become a crime under US law to support, provide material or being a member of the group. Boko Harem’s main focus is in Nigeria where it has been attempting to set up an Islamic state in the north of the country since its foundation in 2002. The group has links to al-Qaeda franchises in West Africa and Mali. In Aug 11 an attack on a UN building in Abuja marked a turning point as a threat to US interests. On the 15 Nov 13 this was confirmed. Boko Harem has now been added to the list of foreign terrorist organisations. The terrorist group Ansaru which is also considered a branch of BH and was formed in 2012 was also deemed a terrorist organisation. Since then it has proven itself a major force, managing to infiltrate Nigerian military structures on numerous occasions. Ansuru has also extensively targeted Western targets, including kidnapping foreigners working and living in Nigeria. These designations mean that the United States can legally go after assets belonging to the terrorist organisations.