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On 13 September 2022, Islamic State's official media house, al-Furqan released the third audio message by IS spokesperson, Sheikh Abu Omar al-Muhajir. This new speech is not fundamentally different from his two previous releases, but there is a strong theme of criticism against fighting MTO and calls for action for joining IS and stepping up the fight against the group's enemies. Al-Muhajir addresses all wilayats from Syria and Iraq to south and central Asia and Africa.
Some of the highlights of the speech include praises for the prison breaks in Nigeria and Congo (DR), reinforcing TRAC's position that Islamic State Central Command's main strategy is its African one. Other highlights were an offering of a modicum of consolation for Russia in their battle against the "capitalist American camp", advocating for the continued killing of Christians, and fighting against any Shia group or those who "work alongside" a Shia group, in particular the Taliban.
Al-Muhajir offered high praises to Islamic State Khurasan (ISK) for their efforts in Afghanistan against the Taliban, as well as to Islamic State Sinai (ISS) for their attacks on Egyptian forces. In contrast, he was particularly critical of any Islamic State faction in Syria that has chosen the path of fighting MTOs; basically calling them out for not fighting hard enough.
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TRAC Insight:
Islamic State Turns to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to
Raise Funds and Spread Propaganda
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Image: Image used for an NFT praising an ISK attack on the Taliban. | |
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A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is a unit of data stored on a blockchain—a database of transactions organized without the need for a centrally-trusted authority. They can be created by anyone and require no coding skills. Most NFTs contain references to digital files such as photos, videos, and audio files, that are bought an sold in digital marketplaces. They are popular because they are unique and cannot be replaced.
Recently, NFTs showing support for the Islamic State have been circulating on established NFT marketplaces such as Rarible and Opensea. The NFTs have the logo of the organization, along with a message praising the Islamic State for their recent attack on the Taliban (IEA) in Afghanistan. In addition, there were two more NFTs with one depicting an IS 'scientist' demonstrating how to make explosives.
It is important to note that this is the first known case of an NFT being created and shared by a terrorist supporter/sympathizer. TRAC has observed that these NFTs created by a potential IS sympathizer were not listed for sale, which is an indication that Islamic State is exploring these newly emerged platforms for the purposes of spreading propaganda and eventually raising funds.
Unlike mainstream and even lesser known social media platforms, NFTs are available on a platform designed for storing and sharing digital assets, as well as data in a distributed file system, making it extremely difficult to eliminate such information. This is of grave concern because even after removing an NFT from marketplaces, it remains impossible to delete these NFTs completely and prevent them from continued use. So, even if Islamic State gathers zero funding from these NFTs, they can still use the platforms as a way to circulate propaganda ad infinitum.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Clashes Between Islamic State Greater Sahara (ISGS) and Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) Led To ISGS Taking Control of Talataye, Cercle of Ansongo, Gao Region, Mali
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Image: IS insiders celebrate the takeover by creating and distributing a quick map showing the activity
and the recent temporary control of the towns of Tissit and Talati.
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On 06 September 2022, an Islamic State-affiliated Telegram channel reported simply that “clashes were ongoing” and urged people to “pray for our brothers” in Talataye, Cercle of Ansongo, Gao Region, Mali. This incident of "ongoing clashes" happened on the same day that Islamic State supporters introduced a new propaganda series “Testimony of a Brother” from the exact same location. By reporting the clashes combined with releasing a new propaganda series, Islamic State Greater Sahara significantly increases the chances of recruiting new members and spreading their influence across various social media platforms.
Two days later, Islamic State insiders celebrated the takeover of Talataye and by 10 September, Islamic State insiders, as well as local journalists were reporting that ISGS not only out numbered JNIM, but that they had superior tactical knowledge in the battle. To this end, ISGS maintained four front lines simultaneously and even with Malian air power supporting the Azawad forces, ISGS was able to take control of the city.
Further, IS insiders rumor that one of the reasons for the overwhelming ISGS fire power in Talataye was that 1/4 of the ISGS reinforcements came from Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) in Nigeria. If proven to be true, this would make the first documented case of ISWA assisting ISGS in Sahel; although TRAC speculated that ISGS helped ISWA's expansion into Sokoto State, Nigeria with the September 2021 cross-border attack from Niger’s Tahoua Region into Sokoto state, which had all the characteristics of Islamic State. Again, reinforcing TRAC's assertion that Islamic State Central Africa's plans for the future are simply Africa.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Sibanye-Stillwater Forced to Stop Work at Soweto Gold Mining Operation as Heavily Armed Illegal Foreign Miners (Zama-Zama) Take Over, Soweto, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa
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Image: Sibanye-Stillwater Gold Mine, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
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On 08 September 2022 at the Sibanye-Stillwater Gold Mine in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, armed illegal gold miners forcibly took control of the mine. According to local media and social media channels, although no casualties or injuries were reported, shots were fired into the air and onsite security was quickly overpowered.
Gauteng Province is home to the economic hub Johannesburg and the executive capital Pretoria. There are numerous illegal mining operations in the province and it is often overlooked by police, because security officials are easily bribed to let this activity get swept under the rug. In the past, TRAC has observed a number illegal foreign mining (Zama-Zama) operations in Gauteng Province, South Africa, with many of the illegal miners coming from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana. That said, the majority are from Mozambique and the alienation of the Zama-Zama by locals only draws the expatriates closer to financing jihadist groups like Shabaab Cult (Islamic State) with their ill-found gold gains.
Although Sibanye-Stillwater originated as a South African company, Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel GMKN.MM bought 51.3% of Sillwater’s common shares in 2010. With the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian-owned private businesses in Europe and the US have been sanctioned and life has generally been made difficult for Russian businesses worldwide. However, South Africa has maintained a positive relationship with Russia, it being part of the BRICS alliance. Russian propaganda and news is popular in South Africa and many government officials see the Russia invasion in a favorable light.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Aryan Freedom Network Announce Armed Patrols in White Neighborhoods of Memphis, Tennessee, United States
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Image: Aryan Freedom Network propaganda poster | |
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On 07 September 2021, 19-year-old Ezekiel Dejuan Kelly went on a shooting spree targeting 'white people' in Memphis, which prompted an hours-long manhunt, with Kelly live-streaming the entire series of events, taunting the police force actively looking for his location.
In response to the shooting spree, the Aryan Freedom Network made an announcement on 09 September that they would be conducting armed patrols in the white neighborhoods of Memphis, Tennessee. The fact that the white supremacist group is willing to provide armed protection for the white communities of Memphis should be of grave concern to security forces in the area.
Additionally, the Aryan Freedom Network has launched a nationwide drive to train white people to protect them from "black people violence." TRAC cannot reiterate how dangerous the narrative that the Aryan Freedom Network is positing here. There have already been various responses from the racist white community and the black community of Memphis, including two copycat black men who threatened to hunt down white people of Memphis and "reignite" racism. The eco-fascist and racist Terrorgram Collective has already distributed posters naming the Ezekiel Dejuan Kelly shooting spree as the "spark of the race war."
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TRAC Incident Report:
An Islamic State (IS) Militant was Eliminated & Six Jihadist (One Wearing Women's Clothing) were Detained, & Yazidi Slaves Freed, during CTO at an
al-Hol Camp, Hasakah, Syria
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TRAC Incident Report: Maoist Women Cadre, Madakam Kosi aka Rajitha and Madvi Dhani, Captured with Gelatin Sticks and Detonators (Bombs) in Kurnapalli-Bodanelli Forest, Charla Mandal, Bhadradri Kothagudem District, Telangana, India | | | | |
