US official: ISIS threat growing in Africa

An attack on the northern Mozambique town of Palma where dozens were killed and thousands displaced may show the increasing “brazenness” of Islamic State in the country, the US Department of State’s acting special envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS, John Godfrey, told reporters on Monday, Report informs with reference to Reuters.

Godfrey stressed the growing threat of ISIS outside of Iraq and Syria, particularly in Africa.

He said that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on March 30, that is today, will discuss the issue at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the D-ISIS Coalition Small Group.

Godfrey said that the attack in Mozambique was in line with what has been seen from Islamic State in Mozambique and noted the US government is closely monitoring events.

He cited what he said was the brutality of the attack and the killing of civilians as well as the increased brazenness of the group, which is now seeking to hold some towns.

“The attacks there are horrific, frankly, and show a complete disregard for the life, welfare and security of the local population,” Godfrey said of the attacks in Palma.

“Attacks such as these are clear indicators that ISIS continues to actively seek to spread its malign activity to new fronts,” he added.

“ISIS remains capable of carrying out smaller-scale deadly operations in both rural and urban areas and remains intent on doing so to demonstrate that it constitutes a continuing threat. In Iraq, the recent series of attacks are just the latest reminder that ISIS does indeed remain a threat, one that can still metastasize if left unchecked,” he said.