The leader of the Islamic State militant group that controls tracts of Syria and Iraq has accepted a pledge of allegiance from Nigerian Islamists Boko Haram, his spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani said, calling on supporters to fight in Africa.
Boko Haram, which has killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds during a six-year campaign to carve out an Islamist state in northern Nigeria, pledged its allegiance last week, highlighting increased coordination between jihadi movements across north Africa and the Middle East.
Adnani also played down recent advances into Islamic State-held territory in recent days by Iraq’s security forces.
“The caliphate is steadfast with God’s grace, and its shouting is getting louder, it increases with strength day after day thanks be to God. It is still victorious, the victories that the crusaders and the rejectionists (Shi’ites) speak about are exaggerated, delusional and fake. It does not exceed taking back a few villages and areas in a battle of attack and retreat.”
“We announce today that our caliphate has extended to West Africa. Our caliph, may God protect him, has accepted the allegiance from the Ahlul Sunna for Daawa and Jihad group (Boko Haram). We congratulate the Muslims and our jihadi brothers inWest Africa their allegiance and joining the caliphate. So spread the news O Muslims, this is a new door that has been opened for you to live in the caliphate,” he said in an audio message on the militant monitoring group SITE’s website.
Islamic State, an ultra-hardline offshoot of al Qaeda led by its self-proclaimed CaliphAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has declared a caliphate in captured territory in Iraq and Syriaand has gained global notoriety for killing or kidnapping members of ethnic and religious minorities and posting videos of its members killing Arab and Western hostages.
The group rejects all but its own interpretation of early Sunni Muslim theology as heresy.
Islamic State has also faced a major counter-offensive by Iraqi security forces and militias in Iraq, who fought their way into Saddam Hussein’s home city of Tikrit on Wednesday (March 11), advancing on two fronts.
Islamic State fighters stormed into Tikrit last June during a lightning offensive that was halted just outside Baghdad.
Reuters/Intel SITE Group
