United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has identified a Tanzanian living in South Africa as a sponsor of the Islamic State Mozambique (Isis-M).
The department also mentioned three others based in South Africa as financial facilitators of terrorism in Africa.
Tanzania national, Peter Charles Mbaga known as Abu Kaidha was mentioned as the only person known to have a connection with the Islamic State on Mozambique.
Others mentioned were South African nationals Farhad Hoomer, Siraaj Miller and Bilal Al-Sudani, a US-designated leader of the IS in Somalia.
The US Treasure department said the Tanzanian national helped IS buy equipment from South Africa to support terror in Mozambique
Mbaga was identified when he attempted to purchase weapons in Mozambique and was identified with travel document numbered No AB321592, billed to expire on the 8th of March, 2019.
Members of the Islamic State in South Africa are bankrolling affiliates in the rest of the continent as they ensure they execute money transfers to the top echelons of the terrorist organisation in other countries.
“Treasury is taking this action to disrupt and expose key Isis supporters who exploit South Africa’s financial system to facilitate the funding of Isis affiliates and networks across Africa, ” US Under-Secretary Brian E. Nelson said in the statement by the department.
“Recently, Isis has attempted to expand its influence in Africa through large-scale operations in areas where government control is limited,”
“Isis affiliates in Africa rely on local fundraising schemes, such as theft, extortion of local populations and kidnapping for ransom, as well as financial support from the Isis hierarchy, ” the statement said.
The department also called on authorities to block and report the financial facilitators of terrorist groups or of violent extremism who currently have possessions on the US or in control of US persons.
Mozambique has battled terrorism for the longest with Total having to ditch its $20bn gas plant in Palma. The security situation in the country has led to the death of thousands of people and more than a million others have fled the country.