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Vice Admiral Michael Franken, the U.S. Africa Command’s Deputy for Military Operations, says that Islamic State (IS) has been targeting African countries, particularly those suffering from corruption and instability.
Expanding
The Syria-based extremist group has expanded its influence to Libya, Somalia, and Nigeria. Franken said that more United States State Department workers and development officials are needed to protect Africa from IS. He believes that the U.S. has lagged in making sure good governance and society follow operations.
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A strong influence in Libya
Government officials say that there are hundreds of fighters coming from Tunisia and Yemen. In February, there were only 200 members of IS in the Libyan city of Sirte. Now it has grown to about 2,000 in and around the city.
“If Raqqa [Syria] is the nucleus, the nearest thing to the divided nucleus is probably Sirte,“ Franken said. “From there they look to export their terror into Europe and elsewhere.”
The strong influence in Libya raises serious global safety concerns. According to Michael O’Hanlon, a defense policy expert at Brookings Institution, a Washington D.C. based think thank:
“Access from Libya to Europe is disturbingly easy. Sirte looks like a real stronghold — and one with little prospect of being taken away from ISIL anytime soon.”
Clashing with al-Shabab in Somalia
IS has expanded to Somalia, but Franken says that its presence is insignificant in the nation. The dominant militant group in the country is al-Shabab, which has long been allied with al-Qaeda. About two dozen members of al-Shabab shifted their loyalties to IS in October, but al-Shabab has been attacking many members who are pledging to IS. In November, al-Shabab fighters killed one of the group’s veteran officials, Sheikh Hussein Abdi Gedi, and four others after he reportedly tried to switch members to IS. On November 16, another allegedly pro-IS commander, Sheikh Bashir Abu Numan, and eight others were killed. The head of al-Shabab in the Lower Shabelle region, Abu Abdalla, said:
“If you belong to another group, go where you belong. If you have a different flag, take it with you. It doesn’t work here, and you will be beheaded even if you have a big beard.”
Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Islamic State
Nigerian terror group Boko Haram, which recently surpassed ISIS as the world’s deadliest terror organization, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
“We know there have been some Boko Haram fighters that went north and joined [Islamic State]. Fortunately, not many of them came back,” said Franken.
He said that the allegiance has not been too cooperative but IS likely taught Boko Haram deadlier tactics. Members of the Nigerian group has increased their number of suicide bombings, which has made them considerably more lethal.
SEE ALSO: Boko Haram Surpasses ISIS As World’s Deadliest Terrorist Organization.
