U.S. Imposes Sanctions Targeting the Islamic State in Africa

In response to growing Islamic State activity in Africa, the United States imposed sanctions on several African companies and people on November 7. This marks the second set of sanctions imposed on African supporters of the Islamic State in less than two weeks.

Alarming growth: Several U.S. reports this year have highlighted the Islamic State’s expanding influence and operations in Africa. Examples from one congressional report stated:

• Islamic State in West Africa Province has surpassed the size of the infamous Boko Haram terrorist organization. It operates in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Deaths attributed to the Islamic State in West Africa almost doubled from 2,700 in 2017 to nearly 5,000 in 2020.
• Islamic State Greater Sahara’s media has declared itself as its own “province” this year.
• Islamic State Democratic Republic of the Congo’s attacks increased by almost 50 percent in 2021 over 2020, killing more than 1,200 people.

Targeted sanctions: Monday’s sanctions are meant to target “key individuals in [the Islamic State’s] network in South Africa, as well as their business assets, who have played pivotal roles in enabling terrorism and other criminal activities in the region,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. Those targeted were:

• Four people including Farhad Hoomer, who is described as an Islamic State cell leader.
• Eight companies whose leaders are controlled by individuals who are part of Hoomer’s Islamic State cell.

Why this matters: The Trumpet has long forecast an increase of radical Islam in Africa. Daniel 11 warns that the “king of the south” will gain control over key African countries including Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia. Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has identified radical Islam led by Iran as this prophesied king of the south. For more on radical Islam’s rise in Africa, read Libya and Ethiopia in Prophecy and The King of the South.