Is Africa the new power base for the Islamic State group?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 15 April 2021
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Since Islamic State’s hold on Iraq and Syria has weakened in recent years the group has sought to expand into new territories, including Africa.
IS insurgents have reportedly killed thousands, including children, and displaced thousands more in Mozambique, Mali, and Somalia, among other territories across the continent.
It is believed that IS franchises its brand to local militant groups, providing support, claiming responsibility for deadly attacks, all while spreading its influence in these new territories.
Charmaine Cozier asks if Africa is a new power base for the Islamic State group?
Producer: Paul Connolly
(Al-Shebab fighters, an Islamist insurgent group in Somalia. Credit: Mohamed Abdiwahab/Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | From the BBC World Service, these attackers have no fear. |
| 0:04.5 | They would have killed me had they found out. |
| 0:06.5 | It was really intense. |
| 0:08.5 | I just saw the entire financial markets grinding to a halt. |
| 0:12.5 | This is what they stole. |
| 0:14.0 | So many millions of dollars. |
| 0:15.5 | Oh, it's got to be North Korea. |
| 0:16.5 | It was chaos. |
| 0:17.5 | What do you mean they've disappeared? |
| 0:18.5 | It was almost like a perfect crime. |
| 0:19.5 | Where did they get the money? |
| 0:20.5 | How in the world did this happen? |
| 0:22.5 | The Lazarus Heist from the BBC World Service coming soon. |
| 0:30.5 | Welcome to the inquiry. |
| 0:31.5 | I'm Charming Khosia. |
| 0:33.5 | Each week, one question, four experts and an answer. |
| 0:46.5 | A town is under attack. |
| 0:48.5 | Hundreds of armed men storm the area from three different directions on a Wednesday afternoon. |
| 0:54.5 | Roads are blocked and the phone network is down. |
| 1:00.5 | Some of them wear camouflage and bright red bandanas as they hunt down a massacre. |
| 1:05.5 | Dozens of civilians opening fire on some and beheading others with machetes. |
| 1:11.5 | A hotel, its guests and people who fled there for safety are also targeted. |
... |
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