The United States Treasury announced a new sanctions package on 23 July 2024, targeting an ISIS facilitation networking in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. The intended targets are three individuals, two of whom are based in South Africa, designated as key financiers and trusted operatives, enabling ISIS activities and those of its leaders across central, eastern and southern Africa.
ISIS cells in South Africa rate a specific mention along with neighbouring Mozambique, Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where a three-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission is attempting to curb rebel violence. The cells and countries are said to be “critical links” between far-flung ISIS operations, including those in Africa.
Abubakar Swalleh is a South Africa and Zambia-based ISIS operative, accused of “the physical transfer of funds from South Africa to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).” Additionally, “Swalleh facilitates the movement of ISIS-affiliated individuals from Uganda to South Africa.”
Mohamed Ali Nkalubo, a DRC-based ISIS commander who was previously sanctioned by the US on 8 December 2023, allegedly “relies on Swalleh to move funds and recruit members for ISIS’s DRC affiliate”. Swalleh is believed to have moved to South Africa under the direction of Nkalubo, where he has been involved in robberies and kidnap for ransom.
Zayd Gangat is another South Africa-based alleged “ISIS facilitator and trainer.” ISIS leaders in South Africa have historically relied on robbery, extortion, and kidnap for ransom operations to fund their operations.
The US treasury identified DRC-based Hamidah Nabagala as an intermediary for ISIS financial flows in central Africa. Additionally, Nabagala is accused of funding the October 2021 Kampala bombing, which resulted in the death of one individual, with an additional three left injured. Ugandan authorities had in 2021 arrested an ISIS operative linked to funds from Nabagala. She is believed to have intended to smuggle her three children out of Uganda to an ISIS-affiliate camp in the DRC.
The designations are aimed at the threat ISIS poses to regional security and stability. Treasury has targeted ISIS efforts to expand operations and raise funds in Africa with designations of South Africa-based ISIS operatives, financial facilitators, and their business networks in March and November 2022. Additional designation of a key Somalia-based ISIS finance official was announced in July 2023.
Swalleh, Nabagala, and Gangat have been designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for materially assisting, sponsoring, or having provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ISIS, a person whose property and interest in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224.
Implications associated with the individuals include the blocking and seizure of any property and interests in the United States, and “engaging in certain transactions with the individuals designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended.”
