This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-31862992
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Islamic State 'accepts' Boko Haram's allegiance pledge | Islamic State 'accepts' Boko Haram's allegiance pledge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Islamic State (IS) has accepted a pledge of allegiance from Nigeria's militant group Boko Haram, according to an audio message. | Islamic State (IS) has accepted a pledge of allegiance from Nigeria's militant group Boko Haram, according to an audio message. |
| In the tape, which has not been verified, an IS spokesman says the aim of establishing a caliphate has now been expanded to West Africa. | In the tape, which has not been verified, an IS spokesman says the aim of establishing a caliphate has now been expanded to West Africa. |
| Last week, Boko Haram posted a message saying it wanted to join ranks with IS. | Last week, Boko Haram posted a message saying it wanted to join ranks with IS. |
| Boko Haram began a military campaign to impose Islamist rule in northern Nigeria in 2009. | Boko Haram began a military campaign to impose Islamist rule in northern Nigeria in 2009. |
| The conflict has since spread to neighbouring states. | The conflict has since spread to neighbouring states. |
| Growing influence | Growing influence |
| In the tape, a man - who describes himself as IS spokesman Mohammed al-Adnani - says: "We announce to you to the good news of the expansion of the caliphate to West Africa because the caliph... has accepted the allegiance of our brothers of the Sunni group for preaching and the jihad." | In the tape, a man - who describes himself as IS spokesman Mohammed al-Adnani - says: "We announce to you to the good news of the expansion of the caliphate to West Africa because the caliph... has accepted the allegiance of our brothers of the Sunni group for preaching and the jihad." |
| Boko Haram at a glance: | |
| Why is Boko Haram so strong? | |
| IS shaping Boko Haram media | |
| The spokesman also urges Muslims to join militants in West Africa, rejecting suggestions that Iraqi forces and the US-led coalition have recently had a series of victories against IS in Iraq and Syria. | The spokesman also urges Muslims to join militants in West Africa, rejecting suggestions that Iraqi forces and the US-led coalition have recently had a series of victories against IS in Iraq and Syria. |
| The audio tape has not been independently verified. | The audio tape has not been independently verified. |
| IS aims to establish a caliphate, a state ruled by a single political and religious leader according to Islamic law, or Sharia. | IS aims to establish a caliphate, a state ruled by a single political and religious leader according to Islamic law, or Sharia. |
| Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is known to his followers as Caliph Ibrahim. | Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is known to his followers as Caliph Ibrahim. |
| In the audio message posted on Saturday, the Boko Haram leader purportedly said: "We announce our allegiance to the caliph... and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity. | In the audio message posted on Saturday, the Boko Haram leader purportedly said: "We announce our allegiance to the caliph... and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity. |
| "We call on Muslims everywhere to pledge allegiance to the caliph." | "We call on Muslims everywhere to pledge allegiance to the caliph." |
| IS has forged links with other militant groups across North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. | IS has forged links with other militant groups across North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. |
| In November, Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi accepted pledges of allegiance from jihadists in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. | In November, Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi accepted pledges of allegiance from jihadists in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. |
| IS seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria last year. It still controls the key Iraqi cities of Tikrit and Mosul, despite a major ongoing Iraqi offensive on Tikrit. | IS seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria last year. It still controls the key Iraqi cities of Tikrit and Mosul, despite a major ongoing Iraqi offensive on Tikrit. |
| IS jihadists have attracted condemnation worldwide for their brutal tactics - including mass killings and the beheadings of soldiers and journalists. | IS jihadists have attracted condemnation worldwide for their brutal tactics - including mass killings and the beheadings of soldiers and journalists. |