Strategic Strike Marks Significant Turning Point in ISIS Operations in Africa

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, known as ISIS’s shadow commander in West Africa, was eliminated on May 16. This significant event followed years of employing complex local networks for evasion. His death represents a major setback to ISIS’s global structure, particularly disrupting activities in northeastern Nigeria. Nonetheless, the group’s top figure, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, remains elusive, with Africa emerging as a primary hub for ISIS’s global operations.

Dr. Omar Mohammed, a Senior Research Fellow at the GW Program on Extremism, explained that ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) operates in numerous small camps throughout the Lake Chad islands and the Borno bush, lacking a centralized headquarters in Nigeria. Al-Minuki relied on traditional communication methods, avoiding smartphones and frequently moving between camps.

Former President Donald Trump’s statement referencing “sources who kept us informed” highlights the role of human intelligence (HUMINT) in targeting al-Minuki. The successful operation infiltrated defenses that had remained strong for years. According to Dr. Mohammed, al-Minuki’s reliance on intricate local networks hindered military efforts in Nigeria for over a decade, yet human intelligence eventually exposed him.

The Nigerian army executed a complicated air-land operation between midnight and 4 a.m. in Metele, Borno State. U.S. Africa Command placed this in northeastern Nigeria, specifically pointing to Metele. Although this operation was tactically successful, ISIS’s leading figure, al-Qurashi, remains at large. He assumed his role following his predecessor’s death in Syria and has reportedly traveled through Yemen to Somalia’s Puntland region.

Africa has become the strategic center of ISIS activities, transitioning from a peripheral region to a core area of operational and financial importance. Analysis by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project shows that over two-thirds of ISIS global activities occur in Africa. Funding sources in Africa are largely local, including taxation, ransom, and smuggling.

Al-Minuki’s rise through ISWAP and operations across the Lake Chad Basin extended into the Sahel. His death marks a crucial disruption to ISIS’s leadership, representing the most significant hit to their global leadership since the 2019 al-Baghdadi raid. Dr. Mohammed emphasized the operation was more than a singular event but part of ongoing efforts to weaken ISIS’s influence and capacity.