The recent audio message released by Islamic State’s official spokesman Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari on March 28th, 2024, during Ramadan, highlights the group’s ongoing call to action and outlines its short-term propaganda strategy.
Malian Armed Forces conducted a joint military operation with Burkina Faso, and Niger which successfully eliminated Abu Huzeifa (Higgo al-Maghrebi), a high-ranking commander of the Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) also known as the Islamic State Greater Sahara (ISGS).
The resurgence of the Islamic State poses a significant threat to Italy and Europe, leveraging geopolitical events to bolster propaganda and recruitment efforts. The evolving landscape of terrorism, characterised by decentralised online radicalisation, presents challenges in surveillance and counteraction.
Following the Crocus City Hall attack, the Islamic State has further increased its online propaganda, inviting its affiliates to conduct new actions globally. The activity of Islamic State provinces in Africa and the Middle East has not ceased and has indeed seen a further increase in attacks against civilians.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip could have represented one of the main reasons that pushed the Islamic State to communicate a new approach to the Middle Eastern dynamics characterised by the Islamic Resistance Movement’s attack against Israeli cities on October 7th, 2023, and the following Tel Aviv’s military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Islamic State’s activity in the Horn of Africa continues to be a security regional challenge considering the local escalation of attacks, especially in the Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. The resurgence of violence, conducted by the Islamic State Mozambique (Ansar al-Sunna) hit both civilians and security forces and resulted in casualties and infrastructure destruction, affecting regional stability and investment plans, particularly in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.
The confrontation between the Islamic State – Somalia Province and al-Shabaab presents significant challenges for regional stability and security. Recent developments underscore IS strategic earns in eastern Somalia, including territorial expansions following the clashes with al-Shabaab forces.
Understanding the impact that jihadist propaganda and violent attacks have on regional dynamics is fundamental to assess the geopolitical risk that a target area might face. The primary aim of this report is to gather Islamic State West Africa Wilayah (ISWAP)’s statements, which are dispersed across various media channels, in order to acquire insights into the group’s rhetoric and propaganda techniques.
This report aims to describe recent events surrounding ISWAP after the death of Ba'ha Shuwa and the security situation in Western Africa and also wants to assess regional geopolitical risk considering Islamic State fighters' growing violent attacks and jihadist propaganda.
The arrest of a jihadist network in Spain underscores the persistent threat posed by Islamic State affiliates within the country. Through effective inter-agency collaboration, the Spanish police successfully dismantled a significant terrorist network and confiscated cryptocurrency channels employed for financing extremist activities.