ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the extent to which the 'Financial War on Terrorism' is able to counteract the increasing threat posed by three carefully selected terrorist groups, namely Al-Qaeda, Islamic State and Boko Haram. The relationship between Al-Qaeda and the financing of terrorism was clearly highlighted by its 1993 attack on the World Trade Centre and the terrorist attacks in September 2001. The chapter presents evidence that Al-Qaeda has been able to obtain funding from a very wide range of sources which has bedevilled law enforcement agencies, financial intelligence agencies and the international community. It also discusses that Islamic State has access to more affluent funding streams than those used by al-Qaeda. In many ways, Islamic State has become a self-sufficient terrorist organisation that has thrived on the political uncertainty and insecurity in both Iraq and Syria.
