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| Boko Haram in Nigeria: Abu Musab al-Barnawi named as new leader | Boko Haram in Nigeria: Abu Musab al-Barnawi named as new leader |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Islamic State (IS) militant group has announced that its West African affiliate Boko Haram has a new leader. | The Islamic State (IS) militant group has announced that its West African affiliate Boko Haram has a new leader. |
| Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who was previously spokesman for the Nigerian-based Islamists, is featured in the latest issue of an IS magazine. | Abu Musab al-Barnawi, who was previously spokesman for the Nigerian-based Islamists, is featured in the latest issue of an IS magazine. |
| It does not say what has become of the group's former leader Abubakar Shekau. | It does not say what has become of the group's former leader Abubakar Shekau. |
| He was last heard from in an audio message last August, saying he was alive and had not been replaced - an IS video released in April said the same. | He was last heard from in an audio message last August, saying he was alive and had not been replaced - an IS video released in April said the same. |
| Boko Haram, which has lost most of the territory it controlled 18 months ago, is fighting to overthrow Nigeria's government. | Boko Haram, which has lost most of the territory it controlled 18 months ago, is fighting to overthrow Nigeria's government. |
| Its seven-year insurgency has left 20,000 people dead, mainly in the country's north-east. | Its seven-year insurgency has left 20,000 people dead, mainly in the country's north-east. |
| In the interview in IS's weekly Arabic magazine al-Naba, Mr Barnawi said his group "remained a force to be reckoned with" and said it had been drawing new recruits. | |
| He described the group's battle against West African states as a war fought by Muslims against "apostates" and "crusaders". | |
| Who is Abu Musab al-Barnawi? | |
| Mr Shekau took over as the group's leader after its founder, Muhammad Yusuf, died in Nigerian police custody in July 2009. | Mr Shekau took over as the group's leader after its founder, Muhammad Yusuf, died in Nigerian police custody in July 2009. |
| Under his leadership Boko Haram became more radical, carried out more killings and swore allegiance to IS in March 2015. | Under his leadership Boko Haram became more radical, carried out more killings and swore allegiance to IS in March 2015. |
| In numerous videos, Mr Shekau taunted the Nigerian authorities, celebrating the group's violent acts including the abduction of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014. | In numerous videos, Mr Shekau taunted the Nigerian authorities, celebrating the group's violent acts including the abduction of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014. |
| Nigeria's army has claimed to have killed him on several occasions, and he has not appeared in a video since joining IS. | |
| Is Boko Haram repositioning itself? By Tomi Oladipo, BBC Monitoring's Africa security correspondent | Is Boko Haram repositioning itself? By Tomi Oladipo, BBC Monitoring's Africa security correspondent |
| Boko Haram appeared to be on the back foot following a military campaign by the Nigerian army and its allies from neighbouring countries. This raised questions over whether the IS link had been of any benefit. | Boko Haram appeared to be on the back foot following a military campaign by the Nigerian army and its allies from neighbouring countries. This raised questions over whether the IS link had been of any benefit. |
| But recently the group has stepped up its attacks against regional security forces. A UN convoy was also ambushed last week in north-eastern Nigeria. Even on social media, the jihadist group has resumed its propaganda campaign. | But recently the group has stepped up its attacks against regional security forces. A UN convoy was also ambushed last week in north-eastern Nigeria. Even on social media, the jihadist group has resumed its propaganda campaign. |
| The increase in attacks could worsen the humanitarian situation around the Lake Chad region, where tens of thousands of people remain in miserable conditions in overcrowded camps. | The increase in attacks could worsen the humanitarian situation around the Lake Chad region, where tens of thousands of people remain in miserable conditions in overcrowded camps. |
| Aid agencies also warn that children are dying there in large numbers from malnutrition. | Aid agencies also warn that children are dying there in large numbers from malnutrition. |
| Boko Haram at a glance: | Boko Haram at a glance: |
| The town that lost its girls | The town that lost its girls |
| 'How I almost became a suicide bomber' | 'How I almost became a suicide bomber' |
| Town divided by Boko Haram legacy | Town divided by Boko Haram legacy |
| On patrol against Boko Haram | On patrol against Boko Haram |