Photo Gallery Islamic State in North Africa
Several local extremist groups in North Africa are joining forces with Islamic State. This image purports to show militants from the Libyan group Ansar al-Sharia fighting outside of Benghazi. One part of the group, based in the eastern Libyan city of Darna, has joined Islamic State while the part based in Benghazi has not.
A radical group in control of the city of Darna in eastern Libya recently proclaimed its allegiance with Islamic State. At the end of October, hundreds of citizens did so too in this public ceremony.
Tripoli's Mitiga Airport has been in the hands of an Islamist alliance called Fajr Libya since August. Though much of the airport lies in ruins, a few flights per week still take off and land here. They are bound for Istanbul and Casablanca. As a result, the airport has become a key hub on the jihadist route from Tunisia to Syria.
This undated image shows Islamic State fighters parading in Raqqa, Syria, the group's nominal capital. While IS power is focused in Syria and Iraq, it has begun spreading into parts of North Africa.
This image, posted in June, shows Islamic State fighters near Iraq's largest oil refinery in Beiji. Islamic State exerts a pull on young men who have become disillusioned with the Arab Spring. A lack of opportunity in Tunisia, a lack of freedom in Egypt and a lack of order in Libya has propelled many to join the jihadists.
Tunisia has managed to create a relatively stable democracy and has held two parliamentary elections since toppling autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. This image shows supporter of the Nidaa Tounes party in the run up to presidential elections scheduled for this weekend.
Mohammed Soussi held a degree in economic science and spent two years in the Tunisian military. He had never been particularly devout. But he ultimately joined Islamic State.
