ISIS poses a "serious and growing threat" across Africa that must be confronted, a top-level meeting of the global coalition to defeat the group was told on Tuesday.
Concern is increasing that despite its defeat two years ago, the terrorist group was able to regroup in the parts of Middle East and develop power bases across Africa.
An online meeting of foreign ministers from the 83-country Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS was held on Tuesday and senior diplomats warned that the deadly extremist attack in northern Mozambique last week could mark the beginning of a broader offensive across the country.
The meeting was led by Tony Blinken, US Secretary of State, and a joint statement was issued highlighting concern over the group's resurgence.
“A comprehensive and collective effort remains necessary to achieve a full and enduring defeat of ISIS worldwide,” it said.
The assault on the town of Palma, in which an estimated 60 civilians were killed, showed the “increased brazenness” of ISIS in Mozambique, said John Godfrey, US special envoy for the coalition.
With the announcement of 60 troops from Portugal and the potential for greater involvement from US special forces, Mozambique could become the next major battleground in the fight against ISIS.
Britain, which alongside the US and France led the fight against the group in Syria and Iraq, also affirmed its commitment to eradicating the extremists.
"Two years on from the territorial defeat of Daesh and liberation of nearly eight million people from its cruel grip, we remain committed to preventing its resurgence," said Dominic Raab, UK Foreign Secretary.
While the ministers expressed worries over the rise of ISIS affiliates in West Africa and the Sahel region, Mozambique could become the new test of the coalition’s resolve.
There are concerns that the country could become a breeding ground for ISIS, with The National reporting in October that there appeared to be assistance provided from commanders in Iraq and Syria.
With the end of Mozambique's rainy season, the terrorists have used the past six months to recruit as the group prepares for the cool, dry weather of the "fighting season" that lasts until October.
Mr Godfrey said there was now “quite a lot of concern about the potential for the situation in Cabo Delgado to spread further”.
The US is in discussions with other countries in the area worried that the extremist threat could spill over, especially after ISIS incursions from Mozambique into Tanzania last year.
“That threat became not just an academic but a very real one, and so that’s something that is the subject of quite a lot of discussion out in the region,” Mr Godfrey said.
After its defeat in Iraq and Syria in 2019, ISIS "intensified its focus on the activities of its branches and networks" and this had been "most clearly demonstrated by the events that occurred this past weekend", he said.
Human rights groups reported extensive destruction across northern Mozambique by the militants, with major atrocities including one incident in which 50 people were beheaded in a football field.
Mr Godfrey compared the "sheer brutality of the events on the ground" in Palma this week to incidents elsewhere. He also issued a warning about the "increased brazenness of ISIS-Mozambique" that had gone from hit-and-run raids four years ago to "take-and-hold" operations, such as the one conducted last August at the northern port of Mocimboa da Praia, where terrorists used boats to attack holiday islands.
The take-and-hold strategy demonstrates the group’s strength to the local population, allowing ISIS to conduct protracted atrocities and attract recruits.
Last year, the extremists carried out 570 attacks, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project said.
The assault last week was only 10 kilometres from the $20 billion site for a major gas energy project, led by the French company Total.
The assault raised the likelihood of increased US involvement after the country's embassy announced two weeks ago that US special operations forces, with Mozambique government approval, would “support efforts to prevent the spread of terrorism and violent extremism".
More on Quran memorisation:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule
August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland
Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE
December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman
February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG
June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland
September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Barbie
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SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
