IS shifting to ‘dark web’ encryption

Group using covert communications to combat military pressure – UN

THE UN has warned that the Islamic State (IS) is on the defensive militarily in several regions, including Africa, and is resorting to covert communications. The extremists are adapting to military pressure by using “dark web” communications, the top UN political affairs official warned yesterday.

“Although its income and the territory under its control are shrinking, IS still appears to have sufficient funds to continue fighting,” under-secretary-general for political affairs Jeffrey Feltman, said, briefing the Security Council on the UN secretary-general’s fourth report on the threat the group poses to international peace and security efforts, to “check and roll it back”.

Feltman noted that IS relied mainly on income from extortion and hydrocarbon exploitation, even though resources from the latter were on the decline.

UN member states are concerned that IS will try to expand other sources of income, such as kidnapping for ransom, and increase its reliance on donations.

“IS is adapting in several ways to military pressure – resorting to increasingly covert communication and recruitment methods, including by using the ‘dark web’, encryption and messengers,” he said.

While the previous reports on the subject have focused on Southeast Asia, Yemen and east Africa, Libya and Afghanistan, the fourth report zeroes in on Europe, north Africa and west Africa. It noted that IS has conducted a range of attacks in Europe since declaring in 2014 its intent to target the region.

Some of these attacks were directed and facilitated by IS personnel, while others were enabled by IS providing guidance or assistance.

While the military offensive in Libya has dislodged IS from its stronghold Sirte, the group’s threat to Libya and neighbouring countries persisted. Its fighters – estimated to range from several hundred to 3 000 – have moved to other parts of the country.

Ultimately, it was the spread and consolidation of peace, security, development and human rights that would most effectively deprive terrorism of the oxygen it needed to survive.

IS has increased its presence in west Africa and the Maghreb, though the group does not control significant amounts of territory in the region. The reported pledge of loyalty to IS by a splinter faction of Al Mourabitoun, led by Lehbib Ould Ali, may elevate the level of the threat.

IS-affiliate Boko Haram was attempting to spread its influence and commit terrorist acts beyond Nigeria, and remained a serious threat, with several thousand fighters at its disposal.

It was, however, plagued by financial difficulties and an internal power struggle, and had split in two factions, Feltman reported.

The fourth report also stressed the need to develop sustained, co-ordinated responses to the grave threat posed by IS and associated groups and entities. – ANA

ALTHOUGH ITS INCOME AND THE TERRITORY UNDER ITS CONTROL IS SHRINKING, IS APPEARS TO HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO CONTINUE FIGHTING