The US government keeps enforcing sanctions and launching attacks against ISIS members. The US Treasury announced on Monday imposing sanctions on four members of ISIS cell in South Africa that provided technical and financial support for the organization’s movements in the south of the continent.
The American administration claims that South Africa has become particularly significant as a conduit for the exchange of funds between the organization’s leadership and its groups throughout the continent.
According to US Treasury Deputy Minister for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Affairs Brian Nelson, “The Treasury is targeting today’s key individuals in the organization’s network in South Africa and their commercial assets, and they played a crucial role in enabling the growth of terrorism and other criminal activities in the region.”
The sanctions are directed at four family members who, in the words of the government, “offered material and financial support, technology, goods and services to promote ISIS.”
A total of 12 businesses connected to these four individuals were targeted.
The assets and financial interests of individuals and targeted companies have been frozen in the United States, and any dealing with American companies or persons has become prohibited with the parties covered by the sanctions.
ISIS is present in South Africa, as evidenced by the conviction of twins who planned to assault the American embassy in Pretoria and wanted to join the extremist organisation at the start of the year.
The group also announced in May the creation of a new “state” in Mozambique, which borders South Africa, and where a group associated with the group has been operating since 2017.
Sanctions are imposed by Washington on an ISIS cell in South Africa.
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