Suleyman Ozeren, Suat Cubukcu, Gokhan Aksu
The article explores how ISIS sustained its operational presence through a strategic blend of face-to-face and online recruitment, including prison radicalization, social media outreach, and the exploitation of local grievances. It highlights how ISIS adapted to territorial losses, with a focus on its expansion into new regions, particularly in Africa, through affiliates such as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Islamic State-Central Africa Province (ISCAP), ISIS-Mozambique, and ISIS in the Greater Sahara.
Introduction
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL), represents a unique case study of how a terrorist organization can emerge, rapidly expand, suffers a territorial defeat, yet successfully reconstitute itself as a global extremist franchise. While ISIS built on the know-how and ideological foundation of al-Qaeda, it has proved far more successful in building a diverse recruitment and propaganda machine.
To understand the group’s trajectory, three main periods should be analyzed: its emergence, expansion, and enduring insurgency. In short, ISIS “emerged from the convulsions of the war in Iraq (2003-2011), the Arab revolutions (2010-present) and the civil war in Syria (2011-present)”.
ISIS’ global network of affiliates across various regions has contributed to the group’s resilience and solidified its status as the preeminent force in global jihadist terrorism. This article explores how ISIS strategically leveraged both offline and online recruitment methods to broaden its reach. It also investigates the emergence and recruitment activities of ISIS’ regional affiliates in Africa, with a focus on the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP), ISIS-Mozambique, and ISIS in the Greater Sahara.
Overview of the Rise and Fall of ISIS
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