Over 30 African nationals join Islamic State-Libya operation – UN report

The detainees are believed to have links with global terrorist group

One Ghanaian among those arrested

Some 30 Africans from the sub-Saharan Africa region have been arrested among recruits in the ranks of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Libya (ISIL-Libya), according to a recent UN report.

The document dated February 3, 2022, is the 29th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team on the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Al-Qaeda, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities.

The report was, however, submitted to the UN Security Council Committee.

The countries of origin are Ghana, Eritrea, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and Sudan.

The relevant portion that mentioned the Africans read: “Members of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant–Libya (ISIL-Libya) (QDe.165) are also present in the Fezzan region, but the group is estimated to have been degraded to approximately 50 fighters, located mainly between Sabha, Murzuq, and Umm al-Aranib. A recent arrest led to the identification of a further 30 foreign fighters from Eritrea, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, the Niger, Senegal and Sudan.”

It continued that although weakened, “ISIL-Libya retains some operational capability and prioritizes its continued presence in southern Libya, where it hopes to reorganize its command.”

It is not the first time that African nationals have been reported to have joined the global terrorist organization.

Read the full report below: