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© GRAPHIC NEWS

© GRAPHIC NEWS

© GRAPHIC NEWS

Graphic shows areas of influence of various jihadist groups in the southern islands of Mindanao.
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TERRORISM

Philippines' Jihadists

By Jordi Bou

February 28, 2017 - Abu Sayyaf extremists in the Philippines have murdered German hostage, Jurgen Gustav Kantner, after a $600,000 ransom deadline lapsed over the weekend.

Abu Sayyaf is one of four jihadist groups on the southern islands of Mindanao that have become affiliates of so-called Islamic State. Abu Sayyaf militants conducting kidnapping-for-ransom trade in the Sulu and Celebes Seas earned an estimated $7 million in 2015, according to Stratfor.

Link to Stratfor report

The leader of Abu Sayyaf, Isnilon Hapilon, declared his allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2014. Hapilon recently left his base in Basilan Island and moved to Central Mindanao in an attempt to establish a provincial caliphate for IS.

The Manila Standard reports that terrorist groups, including Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Maute group and AKP, have been uniting into a single group called Dawlatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masrik or DIWM, and have chosen Hapilon as their leader in an effort to be recognised by IS

Sources
PUBLISHED: 28/02/2017; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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