ISIS facing challenges in West Africa

Ahmed Adel

Fighting in northeastern Nigeria between regional armies and jihadists has left at least 25 soldiers and more than 40 Islamist fighters dead.

At least 65 people have lost their lives after suspected Boko Haram militants opened fire on a funeral in Nigeria’s north-eastern state of Borno.

The UAE-based Future for Advanced Research and Studies, in a study on why ISIS is keen on forming new groups in Africa, said that ISIS wants to relocate the battlefield to Africa after ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi unveiled the formation of a new group in Africa. Al-Baghdadi also accepted the allegiance of another group in Burkina Faso and Mali.

These groups may play a key role in the future.

In the same vein, Le Figaro magazine issued a report on ISIS’ activities in Africa in April 2018, including an in-depth analysis of the situation in Africa. The situation in Africa has been a major concern for the intelligence and security agencies of African countries, especially Chad, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

French investigative journalist George Malbrunot, who was himself a hostage of a terrorist group, wrote in an article about ISIS in Africa, noting that ISIS had sent 15 Iraqi trainers to Nigeria before its defeats in Syria and Iraq, citing French military and intelligence sources.

Researcher Hisham El-Naggar, an expert on Islamist movements, said the significance of the terrorist group’s operations sends three key messages.

“First, it proves that ISIS was not defeated. That opens the way for more support and recruitment. Secondly, it continues the stage of founding an organization and an alternative caliphate in Africa. ISIS is seeking to boost its presence in old extremist destinations, including Nigeria,” El-Naggar told THE REFERENCE.

“Thirdly, ISIS is challenged by resisting a collapse by messages that it still exists on the ground and carrying out new terrorist operations,” he said.

He said the group wants to recruit new members by taking advantage of these operations to cement its presence in these regions.