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Abu Umar all-Mujahir, newly appointed spokesman for the Islamic State, announced the appointment of a new Caliph, Abu Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi on 10 March 2022. In doing so, he confirmed the death of the former Caliph, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, who was said to have killed himself by detonating a suicide vest on 03 February 2022 in a U.S. Commando operation in northern Syria. Since the announcement, to date, over 25 photo reports and videos of Islamic State cells swearing bay’ah to the new Caliph have been circulating on official Islamic State Channels on Telegram, RocketChat, Matrix, TamTam, among others. The swearing of bay’ah to a new Caliph is a ritual or renewal for the Islamic State. It goes deeper than a mere photo-op. The propaganda produced is a chance for the organization to communicate the message that the Islamic State remains and holds within the commitment to expand. Aside from the IS hotspots of Iraq, Syria, West Afrcia and Nigeria, bay'ahs have also come from India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sinai. What is interesting about these bay’ah photo reports is that it provides a window into relative cell size in the regions. For Iraq, the majority of cells appear to be small operations, under 10 fighters. Dijlah is similar, it appears to be a six man cell, including the photographer. In other photos, the group of fighters is larger, but it isn’t uncommon for IS Central Command to intermix cells to appear bigger. It should be noted one photo that TRAC labeled as a "fourth set" in India seems the most concerning in regards to security, as not only are faces blurred out and covered, each one of the four-man cell are also wearing black gloves to conceal their hands.
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TRAC Insight:
Ukraine Foreign Fighters – A New Hotbed for
Right-Wing Violent Extremism?
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Image: Ukraine Foreign Fighters with Neo Nazi Flags circulated 15 March 2022 | |
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s subsequent call on people from all around the world to come and fight for Ukraine, thousands of people willing to take up arms to defend the country have been rushing to join the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine, a voluntary battalion formed in connection with the Russian offensive. Confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, volunteers are encouraged to contact Ukraine’s diplomatic missions in their respective countries to sign up, stating that ‘[t]ogether we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too.’ Merely two weeks into the conflict, it is believed that fighters from 52 different countries have voluntarily traveled to Ukraine to join the volunteer legion. However, the exact number is unknown to authorities. While the far-right movement tends to be traditionally pro-Russia insofar as Kremlin shares their authoritarian, anti-West, anti-feminism and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, the invasion has become a divisive issue within the movement. Some right-wing factions who believe that there is still ‘a political solution’ are viewing Russia as the divine savior of the white race, while others who believe that there isn’t ‘a political solution’ are perceiving groups such as the Azov Regiment / Battalion as the white man’s savior and advocate traveling to Ukraine to join Azov and similar ultranationalist paramilitary groups. On 24 February 2022, the Azov Batallion announced on its official Telegram channel that anyone willing to defend Kyiev would be welcome to join its volunteer faction. | |
TRAC Incident Report:
Bombing at Italian Eni Oil Pipeline ‘Ogoda/Brass 24’ in Okparatubo, Nembe LGA, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, Nigeria
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Image: Eni Oil Company logo | |
On 14 March 2022, a bomb targeted ‘Ogoda/Brass 24’ owned by Italian Eni Oil Company. The environmental damage caused by the spill of about 166 tons of crude oil or 1,250 barrels, remains unknown. The Okoroma Clan in Nembe have been protesting at the Eni Obama flow station over lack of employments and not having access to the natural resources of Nembe that the oil companies harvest. This was not the first time that the Eni Oil Company have had attacks in this area. An Eni flow station was bombed at the on 28 February 2022, which led to 20 barrels of crude oil spilled. After this attack, Eni joins Shell Oil (03 March) in declaring a ‘Force Majeure’ meaning that they will not be able to fulfill their contracts made with the Nigerian government. | |
TRAC Incident Report:
Report: Second Unofficial Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) Proof of Life Video For French Journalist Journalist Olivier Dubois
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Images: Screenshot of video of Olivier Dubois pleading for his life in unofficial JNIM video | |
On 13 March 2022, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) released the second proof of life video for French hostage, the journalist, Olivier Dubois. Olivier Dubois has been missing since 08 April 2021, when he did not return to his hotel after a field assignment for LePoint Afrique in Gao, Mali. His disappearance was kept out of the media until JNIM released their first Proof of Life video for him on 05 May 2021. Given that France is planning on pulling out of Mali, the time left to negotiate Mr. Dubois' release is running out. | |
TRAC Incident Report: Corsican Protesters Violently Clash with the Police Over Several Days in Anger Over Imprisoned Nationalist Yvan Colonna, Corsica, France | |
TRAC Incident Report: Two Unknown People Throw Explosives at The Belarus Embassy in Rome, Italy | |
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