The U.S. has announced factional Boko Haram leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, and the ISIS-West Africa as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) and Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO).

The U.S. Department of State on Tuesday declared that al-Barnawi and ISIS-West Africa were designated global terrorists under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 and pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The U.S. said: “In March 2015, the leader of the FTO and SDGT group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS and changed the group’s name to ISIS-West Africa.

“ISIS accepted the pledge of allegiance. In August 2016, ISIS-West Africa split into two factions, due to infighting.

“ISIS appointed Abu Musab al-Barnawi as leader of ISIS-West Africa; the other faction, which remained loyal to longtime leader Abubakar Shekau, reverted to the previous Boko Haram name.

“Al-Barnawi is the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf. Prior to his appointment as leader of ISIS-West Africa, al-Barnawi was the spokesperson for Boko Haram.

“Under al-Barnawi’s leadership, ISIS-West Africa has carried out numerous attacks in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region”.

In announcing these designations, Coordinator for Counter-terrorism Nathan Sales emphasised that “these designations target key ISIS-affiliated groups and leaders outside its fallen caliphate in Iraq and Syria”.

“Today’s actions are a critical step in degrading ISIS’s global network and denying its affiliates the resources they need to plan and carry out terrorist attacks.”

The U.S. also designated two other ISIS-affiliated groups – ISIS-Philippines, and ISIS-Bangladesh – as SDGTs and as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs).

As a result of these designations, U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Philippines, or ISIS-Bangladesh.

The groups’ property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked.

In addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to the organisations.

The Department has also designated four other ISIS-affiliated groups and another ISIS-affiliated leader as SDGTs.

The groups are ISIS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, ISIS-Egypt, and the Maute Group, and the individual is Mahad Moalim.

Executive Order 13224 imposes strict sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the U.S.

Among other consequences, all property and interests in property of the designees are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them. (NAN)

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