On Monday, Morocco’s counterterrorism agency announced it had thwarted potential attacks orchestrated by the so-called Islamic State group in the Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert. The identification and disruption of a 12-member terror cell signaled the growing threat of extremism in the area, as noted by the counterterrorism unit.

Authorities in Morocco have not detailed the suspects’ plans or motivations but confirmed that the group aimed to detonate explosives remotely. The operation involved raids across Morocco, highlighting the danger posed by jihadist activity in the Sahel, where groups affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaida are gaining strength in countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Images and footage released by the authorities showed weapons stashes, Islamic State flags, and large sums of cash. Habboub Cherkaoui, the head of Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations, stated that the country is a primary target for terrorist organizations operating in the Sahel.

The suspects, ranging in age from 18 to 40 and radicalized online, had been receiving instructions from a Libyan leader of the Islamic State, according to Cherkaoui. He noted that the African branches of IS are increasingly internationalizing their operations and that there is a concerning connection between terrorist groups and criminal networks, posing significant threats to both Morocco and Europe.

In the recent past, over 130 Moroccan fighters have joined IS branches in Africa. The most recent jihadist incident in Morocco was in 2023, when Islamic State loyalists murdered a policeman in Casablanca. Following the departure of French troops from the Sahel, the Islamic State has intensified its violent activities and gained control of profitable transit routes in the region.

(Edited by: Louis Oelofse)

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/morocco-says-it-has-broken-up-islamic-state-cell/a-71736468?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf