Treasury Targets ISIS Facilitation Network in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa

The United States Treasury Department has announced it was sanctioning three individuals associated with the expanded activities of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on the African continent including two in South Africa.

The Treasury has listed Abubakar Swalleh, who it describes as an ISIS operative based in South Africa and Zambia who is allegedly involved in the physical transfer of funds from South Africa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Zayd Gangat is also listed as being based in South Africa.

The American Department says Swalleh and Gangat also serve as critical links between far-flung ISIS operations, including affiliates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Somalia, and ISIS cells in South Africa, allowing ISIS leadership to leverage each affiliate’s capabilities to conduct terrorist attacks that undermine peace and security in the region. A third individual listed Hamidah Nabagala is an intermediary based in the DRC.

The United States claims that Swalleh was directed to move to South Africa by a previously sanctioned DRC-based ISIS commander where he has been involved in robberies and kidnap for ransom while Gangat is an ISIS facilitator and trainer.

Source: eNCA

In other news – Actor Sipho Ndlovu speaks out after spending weekend in jail for ‘beating’ ex-girlfriend

Popular South African actor Sipho Ndlovu is back home after he spent a weekend in jail due to his former girlfriend of seven months, Thandeka Mhlanga, accusing him of assault.

The actor was arrested on Friday by Douglasdale police after Thandeka opened an assault case against him. Sipho laid three charges against her, leading to her being arrested and spending a night in jail before being released on R1,000 bail. Read more