ISIS present in Caucasus, expert says
On July 6, the Islamic State released a carefully detailed video describing how the IS is organized and what wilayats and structures it comprises.
It provides interesting information about the organization, especially the 35 wilayats (these are the “administrative” units of the IS). 19 of the wilayats are situated in Iraq and Syria. The other 16 are spread across the Muslim-populated parts of the world.
Not all territories can become an IS wilayat. The Islamic State grants this status to those territories where Islamists and extremists are distinguished in their jihadi fights, and the IS leaders see potential in these Islamists.
Within this context, the media provided rather interesting information concerning IS wilayats. Particularly, those standing out with most severe behaviour were mentioned. In this regard, the “Wilayat West Africa” (former Boko Haram militants from the jihadist movement including several African countries, like Niger, Chad, Nigeria and several parts of Cameroon), situated in the capital city of Africa, was among the leaders.
In June 2015, a wilayat was declared in Caucasus. After the proclamation of this wilayat, terrorist attacks got more frequent in their nature in the Southern parts of Russia (Kazakhstan, Chechnya). Azerbaijan and Georgia are also in the centre of the Islamists’ attention.
So the Islamic State is also present in the Caucasus. This is a fact we should reckon with.