Tag: Islamic State
Insurgency persists in northern Mozambique despite Rwandan efforts
Despite sporadic attacks by insurgents linked to the Islamic State, known as the Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) in the oil and gas rich Cabo...
Recent attacks in Mozambique underscore Islamist insurgency’s growing confidence and resurgence
The Islamic State (IS), on 10 May, claimed that its Mozambique affiliate, Ahlu Sunnah wa Jama’ah (ASWJ) – also known as IS-Mozambique – killed...
Interpol operation nabs 37 terror suspects in eight African countries
Suspected members of ISIS and Al Shabaab were amongst those detained by Interpol and Afripol in a joint operation in eight East African countries....
Recalibrating coastal West Africa’s response to violent extremism
Extremist violence in the Sahel is spilling over into coastal West African countries.
Governments in coastal West African countries play the leading role in responding...
West Africa could soon have a jihadist state – here’s why
The Sahel region of Africa, between the Sahara and the tropical savannahs to the south, has emerged as a significant base of groups that...
Root causes of Cabo Delgado terrorism need to be addressed –...
Until the world understands – and addresses – the root causes of the crisis in Cabo Delgado, there will never be a lasting solution,...
Majority of Islamic State group attacks target African countries
The Islamic State group (IS) claims that it committed 788 attacks globally in the first half of 2024. Of those attacks, 536 were in...
Africa seen as “greatest global generator of jihadi violence”
Africa, according to a recently published research paper, has the “overall notorious reputation of being the greatest global generator of jihadi violence”.
Statistics, the Middle...
Mozambique the most overt manifestation of terrorism in southern Africa
Terrorist activity in Mozambique is the most prominent and overt manifestation of jihadi terrorism in southern Africa, according to a new report.
The Middle East...
South Africa facing three major terrorism threats – expert
Right wing extremist groups, Islamist terrorism, and generating funding for terrorist networks are the three main terrorism threats facing South Africa, according to Institute...
Are Rwandan troops becoming Cabo Delgado’s main security provider?
In three years, the Rwandan contingent in Mozambique has grown dramatically and expanded its operations across five districts.
In July 2021, around 1 000 personnel...
Conditions worsen for Cabo Delgado IDPs amid waves of terror attacks
More than 542,000 internally displaced people (IDP) in northern Mozambique’s conflict-torn Cabo Delgado province face dire humanitarian conditions amid an insurgency that has raged...
Terror attacks increase in Togo as Sahel extremists encroach
Violent extremist organizations from northern Benin and Burkina Faso are increasingly targeting northern Togo as conflicts from the Sahel spill into coastal countries.
Four people...
AU’s ATMIS replacement force takes shape
Details are emerging about the new peacekeeping mission that will succeed the African Union’s current multilateral force in Somalia known as ATMIS when it...
ISIS SA cells named in US Treasury action against ISIS
The United States (US) Treasury Department is, according to a statement, “taking action” against three people associated with expanded activities of the Islamic State...
SAMIM criticism misses larger point
Since the announcement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) drawdown from Cabo Delgado province, there have been various criticisms...
Burkina Faso takes over from Afghanistan as most terrorism-affected country
Last year Burkina Faso surpassed Afghanistan as the country most impacted by terrorism, with nearly 2 000 deaths as the global terrorism epicentre shifts...
US forces conduct precision airstrike against ISIS-Somalia, 3 militants killed
On 31 May, US Africa Command (Africom) carried out an airstrike targeting Islamic State in Somalia (ISIS-Somalia), in the area of Dhaardaar, about 81...
SAMIM withdrawal from Cabo Delgado: uncomfortable truths
Why is the region turning away from an international terrorist organisation on its doorstep that is growing in influence?
On 16 May, Islamic State (IS)...
Islamic State group uses ‘da’wah’ to gain support in Mozambique
Extremists linked to the Islamic State group (IS) in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province are notorious for raiding and torching entire towns, beheading civilians and...
Terror deaths double in Niger
Last year terrorism surged in Niger, with double the terrorism-related fatalities compared to the previous year.
This is according to the latest Global Terrorism Index...
Lake Chad Basin states can sever terrorism’s lifeline – its financing
Nigeria recently sanctioned several individuals and entities for allegedly financing terrorism. The list includes six Nigerians sentenced to 10 years to life in prison...
Gains in Somalia, Mozambique put ISCAP financing in the crosshairs
For seven years, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has relied on a network of Islamic State group affiliates to fund much of...
Cabo Delgado insurgency rebounds, foiling drawdown plans
Renewed violence unleashed by the Islamic State-Mozambique group (ISM) between 8 February and 3 March forced nearly 100 000 people to flee their homes,...
Report: Al-Shabaab extends reach with offer to protect Somali pirates
After a six-year lull in major attacks, Somali pirates in December attacked four vessels as international navies relocated from the Indian Ocean to the...
Extremist group increases attacks in western Uganda
Uganda claimed a significant victory over the Islamic State group (IS) in November when it captured a senior commander known as “Njovu” during a...
Terror in Uganda: what’s driving the Islamic State-linked rebels
The Islamic State Central Africa Province recently attacked and killed two foreign tourists and a citizen in a Ugandan nature park. Located in the...
Global Coalition unyielding against ISIS expansion in Africa – US Envoy
The Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS has agreed to enhance African member states’ counter-ISIS capabilities as it commits to defeat ISIS affiliates in Africa.
Global...
Global coalition to defeat ISIS to focus on African states
The Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS has established a focus group to help African states build up their counterterrorism capabilities, particularly for regions where...
Mystery surrounds SA Special Forces role in terrorism suspect kidnapping
Court documents in a missing persons case have pointed to South Africa Special Forces involvement, with the plot thickening after the murder of a...
Islamic State funds terror along DRC-Uganda border
New reporting shows how the Islamic State group has funded the Allied Democratic Forces for at least four years, leading to an escalating scale...
ISS: Are red flags about Islamic State in South Africa alarmist?
Alarm bells about the threat of terrorism in South Africa have recently been sounding more stridently and more often. Are these false alarms or...
After losing ground in Middle East, Islamic State expands operations in...
The Islamic State terrorist organization has been decimated in Iraq and Syria in recent years and is now seeking to expand operations in Africa,...
DIRCO disputes reports on ISIS fighters returning to SA
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has disputed reports alleging that the department has facilitated the repatriation of hundreds of ISIS fighters.
This...
Coalition reaffirms commitment to fight Islamic State, including in Africa
The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, meeting this week in Morocco, has reaffirmed its determination to continue the fight against Islamic State through both...
Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS to meet in Morocco next week
The Islamic State (ISIS) has made significant inroads into Africa and an 84-member coalition committed to countering ISIS globally is working to deter further...
Enablers of political extremism: a checklist for West African countries
The Sahel – the region just south of the Sahara – is home to the world’s fastest growing extremist group, Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal...
South Africa poorly prepared to deal with terrorism – report
South Africa’s security institutions are poorly prepared to deal with Islamist extremists and terrorists operating across the border in Mozambique, a new report has...
Africom not satisfied with counter-terrorism progress in Africa
Terrorists are expanding across Africa in both geographical reach and influence, and US counter-terrorism efforts are not satisfactory, with more work to be done,...
ISS: US sanctions four alleged ISIS ringleaders in South Africa
Was the United States Treasury’s announcement that it was imposing sanctions on four alleged organisers and financiers in South Africa of the Islamic State...
US Treasury sanctions South Africa-based ISIS organisers and financial facilitators
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned four Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and...
Twelve Niger soldiers killed in clashes with militants
Gunmen have killed 12 soldiers and wounded eight in a clash in southwest Niger near the border with Burkina Faso, the government said on...
Burkina army says three soldiers killed in combat with militants
Three Burkina Faso soldiers died and 11 militants were killed during an attack on the troops in the north of the Sahel West African...
Uganda says seven suspects killed during probe of last week’s Kampala...
Uganda said on Monday that seven suspects had been killed and 106 people detained during operations by the security services linked to three suicide...
Uganda’s police detain 48 suspects linked to last month’s bombings
Uganda's police have arrested 48 suspects in connection with last month's deadly bombings blamed on an Islamist group linked to Islamic State, police said...
Islamic State sinks roots across Africa
The Islamic State group, which once held about a third of Syrian territory and even more ground in Iraq, now oversees a network of...
Uganda investigating Islamist link to bombing after IS responsibility claim
Uganda said on Monday it was investigating whether fighters allied with the militant group Islamic State (IS) had carried out a bombing in Kampala...
Islamic State claims responsibility for bomb attack in Uganda
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bomb attack that killed at least one person in Uganda's capital Kampala on Saturday night, the militant group...
Islamic State claims responsibility for attack in Congo
Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on a village this week in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a statement published on...
Suicide bomber kills scores in Afghan mosque attack
A suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Afghanistan's northeastern Kunduz province on Friday, killing scores of worshippers in the country's third attack this week...
