The Islamic State organisation, IS, in Somalia and a number of its suspected members who are accused of smuggling arms into East Africa have been sanctioned by the US.
The IS primarily conducts operations in the north-east of the nation, carrying out attacks on civilians and security personnel.
Despite getting backing from its neighbors and beyond, Somalia nevertheless has to deal with deadly extremist conflict. Since 2015, IS Somalia has been active in the country in the Horn of Africa.
The individuals who have been sanctioned are charged with supporting the group’s intelligence section, transporting arms across East Africa, and organising high-profile strikes. Some were former members of al-Shabab group.
In October, the US banned a number of al-Shabab militants who were allegedly trafficking weapons from Yemen, where al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are well-established, to Somalia.
The extremist organisations in Somalia have carried out violent attacks that have killed numerous people and caused widespread panic.
To dismantle illegal weaponry and finance networks supporting the actions of al-Shabab and the Islamic State, Somalia is significantly reliant on outside assistance.