IS using security loopholes to expand in central Africa

The expansion of the
Islamic State (IS) group in central Africa portends major dangers to security
in the countries of the region.

This expansion feeds on
rampant political and security unrest in regional states.

IS has so far succeeded
in establishing its own province in central Africa, raising questions on the
possible security and economic ramifications of the emergence of this province
on the region.

The international community
has started noticing the IS province in central Africa, ever since the
terrorist group stepped up its attacks in Mozambique.

The group had last staged
an attack in the northern city of Balma in late March, before the army
succeeded in liberating the city and killing a large number of IS militants.

However, the infiltration
of the IS militants into the Cabo Delgado region threatens economic projects in
it. These projects include natural gas exploration activities.

IS presence in the region
will also strengthen terrorist groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the
Central African Republic and Congo Brazzaville.

Proclaimed central
African province

The declaration of the IS
province in central Africa was a prelude for the success of the terrorist group
to recruit a large number of people in the region.

In April 2019, the late
IS caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, appeared in a video where he flipped through
his organization's files. Central Africa featured in the file.

IS tries to draw in new
recruits to it in its bid to expand even more in central Africa. It uses social
media to reach out to disgruntled citizens in the countries of the region. It
also posts photos of its attacks in different parts of central Africa.