IS militants spreading into North Africa

The influence of the so-called Islamic State’s “Caliphate” is gradually spreading from its stronghold in the Syrian city of Raqqa and taking root among North Africa-based Islamist militant groups
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Approximate area under control of Islamic State militants

MOROCCO 6

500km 300 miles

ALGERIA 5

TUNISIA 4

Raqqa

SYRIA

IRAQ

EGYPT 1

LIBYA 2 3
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1 Egypt: Sunni jihadist group Ansar Bait al-Maqdis – formed in 2011 and numbering up to 2,000 fighters –now known as Wilayat Sinai (Sinai Province) after merging with Islamic State group in November

2 Eastern Libya: Coastal city of Darna – home to 80,000 people – proclaimed Islamic State’s Barka Province in October by coalition of allied militia groups

3 Tripoli: Libyan capital undercontrol of Islamist rebel group Fajr Libya (Dawn Libya) since August.  Mitiga international airport used ashub for thousands of jihadists from Europe and North Africa travelling to join militants in Syria

4 Tunisia: Birthplace of Arab Springhas provided largest number offoreign fighters to Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front –estimates put figure at 3,000. Many people believed to be attracted to jihad over discontent with Tunisia’s political process

5 Algeria: Extremist group Jundal-Khalifa (Caliphate Soldiers ofAlgeria) allied with Islamic Statesince September after splitting from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

6 Morocco: Al-Qaeda-linked terror organisation Salafia Jihadia could be influenced by recent declaration of allegiance to Islamic State made by Moroccan jihadists fighting in Syria
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Source: Wire agencies

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