This section contains news from open sources on persons involved in jihadist activities or criminal activities satellite to jihadism in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lybia and Egypt.
It contains news on convictions, acquittals, arrests, expulsions or deportations, judicial appeals, etc.
Two families were repatriated to Tunisia from Syrian Roj Camp. The repatriation process included four women and children, following the completion of the necessary legal and administrative procedures in cooperation between the camp administration and the relevant Tunisian authorities.
Source: https://hawarnews.com/en/2-tunisian-families-linked-to-isis-mercenaries-leave-roj-camp
A Tunisian appeals court upheld a 55-year prison sentence against Bilal al-Shawashi, a leader of the banned Ansar al-Sharia group, after convicting him on terrorism-related charges linked to travel to Syria and fighting alongside extremist organizations.
According to the ruling, al-Shawashi was found guilty of joining a terrorist organization outside Tunisia, receiving military training inside and outside the country to carry out terrorist acts, and using Tunisian territory to recruit individuals for extremist groups.
Tunisia’s Interior Ministry designated al-Shawashi as a terrorist in 2019 after authorities said he had joined the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.
According to Tunisian authorities, al-Shawashi previously appeared in a video released after the 2015 bombing of a presidential guard bus in Tunis, in which he threatened to carry out further attacks.
Source: https://npasyria.com/en/138865/
Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), working with the Territorial Surveillance Agency (DGST), dismantled a suspected Islamic State-linked terrorist cell and arrested ten people accused of planning attacks against public order, people, and property, according to a security source. The raids took place in Agadir, Taroudant, Casablanca, El Hajeb, Tetouan, Fkih Ben Salah, and Safi. Those arrested include a former terrorism convict and a minor.
Searches of the suspects’ homes uncovered bladed weapons, military-style clothing, extremist documents, digital devices, and videos, including recordings pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and threatening attacks in Morocco. Investigators also found a modified four-wheel-drive vehicle in a warehouse in Inezgane that authorities believe was intended for use in a suicide bombing or vehicle-ramming attack against sensitive targets. They also seized butane gas cylinders, pressure cookers, some filled with nails and others connected to electrical wiring, as well as welding equipment, electrical components, and chemical substances that will undergo forensic analysis.
According to the BCIJ, investigators believe the suspects had pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group and had recently received operational guidance from the group’s Sahel affiliate. The suspects were reportedly instructed to carry out attacks in Morocco rather than travel to join the group abroad.
Moroccan authorities have reported the capture of a suspected member of the jihadist group Islamic State who was preparing terrorist attacks on national territory, as part of an operation carried out in the city of Berkane, in the northeast of the country and close to the border with Algeria.
The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) stated that the suspect was arrested thanks to intelligence data provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), before specifying that “the suspect was planning terrorist attacks” in Morocco.
According to the agency, the detainee had “pledged allegiance” to Islamic State and was planning to “perpetrate terrorist plans against individuals, public order, and infrastructure” acting as a “lone wolf,” after “being unable to join” the Islamic State branch operating in the Sahel region.
According to the latest operational report of the People’s National Army, counterterrorism operations conducted across Algeria between 3 and 9 June 2026 resulted in the arrest of four individuals accused of providing support to terrorist groups. The arrests formed part of broader nationwide security efforts targeting terrorism and organized crime, underscoring the military’s continued focus on dismantling extremist support networks and maintaining vigilance against potential threats.
The Central Judicial Investigations Office (BCIJ), relying on precise intelligence information provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), arrested in M’diq a 31-year-old man closely linked to the extremist ideology of the Islamic State.
Investigations carried out by the BCIJ revealed that the suspect was planning an attack within the framework of the strategy known as ‘jihad alone’. According to the first elements of the investigation, the suspect had reached a critical stage by attempting to acquire technical knowledge for the manufacture of explosives, with the aim of attacking vital infrastructure.
The threat was considered imminent and the suspect’s clearly established criminal intentions posed a serious risk to people’s safety. By neutralizing this individual, the BCIJ not only eliminated an immediate danger to the city of M’diq, but also managed to dismantle a logistical and ideological chain that could have led to a national tragedy. The experience of investigators was decisive in identifying and locating the suspect in time.
Five Moroccan women have returned to Morocco from northeastern Syria in recent weeks after completing legal and administrative procedures coordinated through Moroccan diplomatic channels in Damascus, highlighting ongoing efforts to repatriate citizens stranded in former conflict zones.
The women had previously left camps in northeastern Syria, including the notorious Hawl Camp, and relocated to areas now administered by the Syria government, where access to identity documents and travel permits has become more attainable.
Abdelaziz El Bakkali, coordinator of the Moroccan Coordination of Families of Detainees and Missing Persons in Iraq and Syria said that travel costs remain the primary barrier preventing additional women from returning home. Flights from Damascus to Morocco generally require transit through Qatar, with ticket prices ranging between 20,000 and 25,000 Moroccan dirhams per person. As a result, several women who have completed all required legal procedures are still awaiting financial assistance to cover transportation expenses.
Moroccan authorities have processed more than 150 returnee cases through a combination of judicial measures, intelligence monitoring, and reintegration programs aimed at balancing security concerns with humanitarian considerations.
Source: https://npasyria.com/en/138186/
A Tunisian court sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist Ennahda movement, to life imprisonment plus an additional 30 years on terrorism-related charges. Ghannouchi and several other Ennahda officials were convicted of operating an alleged “secret security apparatus” for the party. Former prime minister Ali Laarayedh was also sentenced to 42 years in prison in the same case. Ennahda rejects the charges, while critics argue the prosecutions are part of a broader crackdown on opposition since President Kais Saied consolidated power in 2021.
Source: https://h24info.ma/monde/tunisie-rached-ghannouchi-condamne-a-la-prison-a-vie-pour-terrorisme/
During counterterrorism operations conducted between 25 May and 2 June 2026, the People’s National Army reported that a terrorist identified as R.H., alias Mohamed, surrendered to military authorities in Bordj Badji Mokhtar with a Kalashnikov rifle, ammunition, and other equipment. Army units also seized a significant cache of weapons in the Guezzam sector, including assault rifles, machine guns, an anti-aircraft weapon, and an RPG launcher. In addition, five individuals accused of supporting terrorist groups were arrested in separate operations across Algeria, highlighting ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist networks and their logistical support structures.
On 15 May, Moroccan police arrested two ISIS-affiliated extremists in the cities of Midelt and Youssoufia, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) announced. The BCIJ reported the suspect had expressed intent to carry out attacks targeting civilians and public order. Officers seized electronic devices, multiple bladed weapons of various sizes, and paramilitary clothing during the operation.
The suspects, both 19, were apprehended by judicial police based on intelligence provided by the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST). Preliminary investigations showed both had pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed leader of ISIS. They were planning imminent attacks under the framework of so-called “individual jihad,” targeting people, public order, and critical infrastructure.
Moroccan counterterrorism authorities arrested a 22-year-old suspected ISIS-affiliated extremist in Dakhla after intelligence indicated he intended to carry out terrorist attacks targeting public security. Security forces seized electronic devices, bladed weapons, and paramilitary clothing during the operation. The arrest is part of Morocco’s broader counterterrorism efforts, which have dismantled more than 200 terrorist cells since 2002.
Six Moroccan nationals detained in Somalia’s Puntland region for more than two years returned to Morocco after being acquitted on appeal in a terrorism-related case. The men had previously faced death sentences over accusations of destabilizing Somalia and spreading disorder, but Moroccan authorities repatriated them following diplomatic efforts. Upon arrival, they were taken into custody for further questioning by Morocco’s counterterrorism investigators.
A Tunis anti-terrorism court sentenced several individuals, including former Justice Minister Noureddine Bhiri, to prison terms ranging from 11 to 30 years in a case involving forged passports and nationality documents allegedly used to facilitate terrorism-related activities. Investigators said Syrian nationals obtained fake Tunisian documents to support terrorist offenses abroad, leading to charges including aiding terrorist travel, document forgery, and support for terrorism. The case was transferred to Tunisia’s anti-terrorism judicial unit after links to international terrorism emerged.
Between April 29 and May 5, 2026, Algeria’s People’s National Army carried out nationwide counterterrorism and security operations, arresting 11 individuals accused of supporting terrorist groups. The operations also targeted broader security threats, including drug trafficking, smuggling, illegal mining, and illegal migration, reflecting an integrated counterterrorism and internal security strategy aimed at strengthening national stability and border control.
Algerian authorities have dismantled an organized terrorist recruitment network that operated through closed Facebook groups used to spread extremist and jihadist ideology. Several suspects were arrested, including a former police officer believed to be the main organiser, who had fled the country. The network used fake accounts and phone numbers to attract and recruit new members for terrorist groups both locally and abroad. Those involved face serious charges related to promoting terrorism and using digital technologies for criminal purposes, with trials expected soon.
Tunisian courts have handed down severe prison sentences to dozens of opposition figures, activists, and lawyers on charges including terrorism and conspiracy against state security. In a major “Conspiracy Case,” 37 people received sentences ranging from 4 to 66 years, with others also jailed in separate cases. Critics argue that authorities under President Kais Saied are using broad terrorism laws to justify mass trials, lengthy sentences, and arrests targeting political opponents.
Source: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2026/country-chapters/tunisia
A Tunis criminal court handed heavy prison sentences in the “El-Moussamara” (discussion circle) case, sentencing Rached Ghannouchi and Ennahdha members Youssef Nouri and Ahmed Mechergui to 20 years in prison each. Two other party members, Mohamed Goumani and Belgacem Hassan, received three-year sentences. The case stems from Ghannouchi’s 2023 arrest following remarks warning of possible civil war if political forces, including Islamists, were excluded. Authorities considered his statements a threat to state security and charged him with conspiracy against state safety.
Suicide bombers detonated explosives in Algeria’s Blida Province during a violent attack that occurred while the Pope was visiting the country. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the blasts and whether they are connected to broader security threats.
Source: https://news.az/news/suicide-bombers-strike-algerias-blida-province-during-pope-visit-video
Morocco’s Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) dismantled a terrorist cell and arrested six suspects during operations on 5 and 6 April 2026 in Kenitra, Casablanca, Dar El Gueddari, and Sidi Taibi. Authorities said the group, influenced by extremist ideology, allegedly carried out thefts, burglaries, and money-laundering activities under the concept of “legitimising loot” to finance criminal acts. Security forces seized extremist materials, bladed weapons, cash suspected to be from criminal activities, vehicles, and other equipment. The suspects were placed in custody while investigations continue to determine the full extent of their activities and identify additional accomplices.
A Tunis court specialising in terrorism cases sentenced 16 members of the terrorist group “Ajned Khilafa,” including Oussama Khazri and Baha Chaïbi, to death. The convictions relate to attacks carried out in 2020 targeting military units and shepherds in the mountainous areas of Mghila and Semmama. The group was also found responsible for manufacturing homemade bombs, mines, and explosive belts.
Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced the dismantling of a major terrorist cell linked to Hasm movement (The Hasm Movement, also known as Harakat Sawa’d Misr / Arms of Egypt Movement / Harikat Souaid Misr is an Egyptian Islamist militant organisation) and the arrest of senior operative Ali Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelwanis on 29 March 2026. Authorities said Abdelwanis, previously sentenced to multiple life terms in absentia, received paramilitary training in Gaza Strip and was involved in several attacks targeting security forces and infrastructure. Investigations also revealed plans to use SAM-7 missiles in a potential attack on the presidential aircraft, as part of broader operations allegedly coordinated by Yahya Moussa.
Source: https://apanews.net/egypt-foils-terror-plot-targeting-presidential-plane
Moroccan authorities announced the dismantling of a three-member terrorist cell linked to Islamic State in a joint operation between the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations and Spanish National Police General Information Commissariat. Two suspects were arrested in Tangier, while the cell leader was detained in Mallorca. The group allegedly financed and supported ISIS fighters in the Sahel and Somalia, with the leader suspected of planning a lone-actor attack in Spain. Authorities noted that Moroccan-Spanish cooperation has dismantled over 30 terrorist cells since 2014.
As part of an Eid Al Fitr royal pardon covering over 1,200 individuals, Morocco granted clemency to 19 people convicted of terrorism and extremism related offences. These individuals received reduced sentences or full pardons after renouncing radical ideologies and pledging loyalty to state institutions. The decision underscores Morocco’s emphasis on deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former extremists.
Algerian authorities reported that seven suspected terrorists were killed in security operations carried out across different regions of the country over the past week. Officials have not yet disclosed which groups the individuals were affiliated with.
A Tunis court sentenced a man to 11 years in prison for terrorism related offences. Investigations revealed he attempted to produce toxic substances and explosives using encrypted online resources, while adopting extremist ideology and pledging allegiance to Daesh. He also communicated with members for training, spread propaganda, and faced multiple charges including attempted murder, membership in a terrorist organisation, incitement to violence, and logistical support for terrorism.
Source: https://www.mosaiquefm.net/fr/national-tunisie/1509339/11-ans-de-prison-contre-un-terroriste
Egyptian authorities have permanently placed three senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood (Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, Sayed Mahmoud Ezzat Ibrahim, and Moaz Mansour Mansour al‑Sharkawy) on the country’s national terrorism list. The decision follows final court rulings convicting them under Egypt’s law regulating terrorist entities and lists. Their designation carries automatic legal restrictions and is part of standard procedures applied after definitive judicial verdicts.
During counterterrorism operations in March 2026, the People’s National Army killed six terrorists in two separate missions in Tébessa and Ain Defla. Soldiers also seized several Kalashnikov weapons and ammunition.
Source: https://www.mdn.dz/site_principal/sommaire/actualites/fr/2026/mars/lutte13032026fr.php
Morocco is preparing plans to repatriate citizens who fought for the Islamic State in Syria and were later transferred to detention facilities in Iraq by the United States. The transfers began in January after the collapse of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been guarding several detention centres holding Islamic State fighters and affiliated civilians, including foreign nationals.
A suspected terrorist surrendered to the People’s National Army in Bordj Badji Mokhtar, while army units arrested four individuals accused of supporting terrorist groups during separate operations conducted across Algeria between 4 and 10 March 2026, according to an official military report.
Detachment units of the People’s National Army killed two suspected terrorists in Ain Defla and arrested eight individuals accused of supporting terrorist groups during nationwide counterterrorism operations conducted between 25 February and 3 March 2026, according to an official operational report.
A Tunis court’s specialized terrorism chamber sentenced a returning fighter who joined the Islamic State in 2014 to 14 years in prison. He was convicted of membership in a terrorist organization, both domestically and abroad, and of receiving training to carry out attacks targeting a foreign country.
Source: https://www.mosaiquefm.net/amp/fr/national-tunisie/1506198/14-ans-de-prison-contre-un-terroriste
The former tunisian Prime Minister – Ali Larayedh – was sentenced to 24 years in prison on 27 February 2026 for facilitating the travel of jihadists to Syria over the past decade.
Tunisian courts have sentenced five individuals to prison terms of up to 15 years for their involvement in the attack on the El Ghriba Synagogue in Djerba in May 2023, which resulted in the deaths of five people.
Three colleagues were shot dead by a National Guard officer before the same officer went on to kill two Jewish worshippers at the synagogue. His fiancée was sentenced to eight years in prison for complicity in homicide, while three others received terms ranging from one to 15 years. Defence lawyers plan to appeal.
Source: https://www.africanews.com/2026/02/16/tunisia-jails-five-over-deadly-2023-djerba-synagogue-attack/
On 11 February, Algeria’s People’s National Army (PNA), working with security services, foiled attempts to smuggle nearly 11 quintals of cannabis resin across the Moroccan border and arrested 10 individuals suspected of supporting terrorist groups, according to an official statement.
Algerian police have solved a case involving coordinated media attacks in November targeting journalists and state institutions. Five suspects were brought before court; two main suspects were detained and three released. The key suspect, a news website owner, allegedly worked with Algeria-based influencers in Europe and a fugitive businessman to organize the campaign, using purchased social media pages and financial transfers. Charges range from defamation to terrorism, espionage, and illegal capital transfers. International arrest warrants may follow for suspects abroad.
Six Moroccan nationals detained at Garowe Prison in Puntland, Somalia, remain in custody despite being acquitted of terrorism charges two years ago and ordered deported to Morocco. One detainee said the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed in January that all legal and administrative procedures were complete and that their files had been forwarded to the Moroccan embassy in Nairobi, with Moroccan authorities agreeing to cover travel document costs. The men say they are now only awaiting travel permits and plane tickets, while enduring harsh detention conditions and appealing to King Mohammed VI to intervene to secure their return.
On 6 February 2026, U.S. authorities announced the arrest, deportation, and extradition of Zubayr al-Bakoush, a long-sought suspect in the 2012 Benghazi attack, who was transferred from an undisclosed foreign country to the United States and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base. A sealed 2015 indictment was unsealed, charging him with murder, attempted murder, arson, and conspiracy to provide material support for terrorism linked to the attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
Source: https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/benghazi-attack-suspect-extradited-to-united-states-527272
More than 100 defendants, including over 20 in pre-trial detention, have been referred to Tunisia’s specialized terrorism chamber at the Tunis Court of Appeal for their alleged role in a network that facilitated the transfer of jihadists to West Africa and Somalia to join ISIS. The investigation, launched in December 2024, uncovered a group accused of organizing and supporting the movement of fighters abroad, leading to the arrest of dozens of suspects while others remain at large. The defendants face charges including forming and joining a terrorist organization, planning to join terrorist groups overseas, and other terrorism-related offences, with the case set to be reviewed once the investigating judge formally closes the inquiry and refers it for trial.
On 4 February 2026, Tunisia’s Tunis Court of Appeal increased the prison sentence of Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist Ennahda movement and jailed since 2023, from 14 to 20 years in the so-called “Conspiracy 2” case against President Kaïs Saïed, notably for “plotting against the state’s internal security”, according to his lawyer speaking to AFP; the ruling brings Ghannouchi’s total cumulative prison time to over 40 years, as sentences are additive under Tunisian law, and comes in a wider trial involving around 20 defendants, including former presidential chief of staff Nadia Akacha and ex-prime minister Youssef Chahed (both abroad), accused of conspiracy and forming an organisation linked to terrorist crimes, amid sustained criticism from Tunisian and international rights groups of a broader post-2021 crackdown on opposition figures, lawyers and journalists.
On 3 February 2026, Tunisia’s specialised criminal court in Tunis began hearing a high-profile case alleging the forgery and issuance of fake passports to foreigners wanted for terrorism, implicating four senior Ennahdha figures — Noureddine Bhiri, Mouadh Khériji, Fathi Beldi (all in custody) and former prime minister Hamadi Jebali (at liberty) — but the prosecution successfully asked to postpone the trial so that Jebali can be formally summoned to appear, and the court rescheduled the next hearing for 24 March 2026.
Between 21 and 27 January 2026, Algeria’s People’s National Army (ANP) carried out multiple nationwide security operations, resulting in the arrest of five individuals accused of supporting terrorist groups. During a search and sweep operation in Tamanrasset (6th Military Region), a joint force also seized three RPG-7 rockets and a quantity of ammunition, as part of ongoing counter-terrorism and border-security efforts. The ANP stated that these operations reflect the continued vigilance and readiness of Algerian armed forces to combat terrorism and organized crime across the country.
Tunisian security forces dismantled a terrorist cell during a preemptive counter-terrorism operation in the Kasserine Governorate, near the Algerian border, an area long affected by extremist activity. The operation, carried out near Majel Bel Abbes and Feriana, resulted in the killing of a wanted terrorist identified as Sadiq Al-Obeidi and the arrest of another accomplice. The Interior Ministry said the operation successfully thwarted an imminent terrorist plot and reaffirmed that security operations continue nationwide to protect the country and defeat terrorism, noting that extremist groups have been active in Tunisia’s western border highlands since 2011.
The Tunis Court of Appeal has postponed the hearing in the high-profile “Conspiracy Against State Security 2” case to 2 February, according to the official TAP news agency. The case, which falls under the judicial counter-terrorism framework, involves allegations of forming and supporting a terrorist group, recruiting and training individuals for terrorist crimes, and conspiring against Tunisia’s internal state security. Originating in September 2023, the case includes prominent political and security figures, and has already led to heavy sentences—ranging from 12 to 14 years in prison, and up to 35 years in absentia—handed down in July. While opposition groups and human rights organizations describe the case as politically motivated, Tunisian authorities maintain that it is a terrorism and national security prosecution, denying the existence of political detainees and insisting all defendants are being tried on criminal charges linked to terrorism.
Seifeddine Makhlouf, a Tunisian parliamentarian and leader of the Islamist Al Karama coalition, was arrested in Tunis on charges of conspiring against internal state security and inciting citizens to attack a public official. The 46-year-old politician, who was known for acting as a lawyer for Tunisian “foreign fighters” returning from Syria before entering parliament, was detained as he arrived at the military court in connection with the 15 March 2021 incident at Tunis-Carthage airport, when he intervened to help a woman on the S17 travel-ban list leave the country, amid verbal assaults on airport security staff. His arrest came on the eve of nationwide protests against President Kais Saied’s exceptional measures, which opponents described as a coup, while Saied insisted he was acting under Article 80 of the Constitution to safeguard the state.
Source: https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/Islamist-deputy-seifeddine-makhlouf-arrested-in-tunis/
The Tunis Criminal Chamber specialized in terrorism cases has postponed the hearing in the case concerning the escape of five high-risk terrorist inmates from Mornaguia Civil Prison to Friday, 16 January 2026. The court has completed the questioning of all defendants and the next session will be dedicated to defence pleadings, after which the case will be taken under deliberation for a final ruling. The case involves more than 40 defendants, including prison officers and senior prison officials, accused of varying degrees of responsibility in the escape, which has sparked serious national security concerns.
Between 8 and 13 January 2026, units of Algeria’s People’s National Army arrested five individuals specifically for terrorism-related offenses, identified as supporters of terrorist groups, during separate counter-terrorism operations conducted across the country.
Source: https://www.mdn.dz/site_principal/sommaire/actualites/ar/2026/janvier/lutte14012026ar.php
On 13 January 2026, Tunisian judicial authorities indefinitely postponed the trial of those accused in the May 9, 2023 attack on the Ghriba synagogue in Djerba, which left five people dead, citing procedural reasons. The decision drew strong reactions from victims and survivors. The attack was carried out by a lone assailant, a member of the Tunisian National Guard, who killed three fellow officers and two Jewish worshippers before being shot dead by security forces; several others were injured. Two suspects, including the attacker’s fiancée, remain detained on charges including complicity in murder and belonging to a terrorist group, while other defendants have been released or remain at large.
The trial of 57 defendants in the case known as “Restructuring the Specialized Committees of the Muslim Brotherhood and Joining a Terrorist Group” has concluded before the terrorism court. Prosecutors accused the defendants of joining an illegal organization, seeking to undermine the constitution and laws, obstruct state institutions, and spread false news to disturb public order and weaken confidence in the Egyptian state, in furtherance of the aims of the Muslim Brotherhood, which authorities designate as a terrorist group. In related proceedings, the court postponed the trial of seven defendants in the “Nasr City Cell” case to 6 April, and delayed hearings for 11 defendants in the “Helwan Cell” case to 4 April, with both cases involving charges of leading or joining terrorist groups and activities aimed at threatening public order, national unity, and social peace.
Source: https://newsroom.info/256635
On the occasion of the commemoration of the presentation of the Independence Manifesto (1447 AH / 2026 CE), King Mohammed VI granted a Royal pardon to 15 prisoners convicted in cases of extremism and terrorism. The beneficiaries received Royal approval after formally reaffirming their commitment to the Nation’s fundamental principles and institutions, revising their ideological positions, and renouncing extremism and terrorism. Of these, nine prisoners were granted a pardon on the remainder of their prison sentences, while six others benefited from a reduction of their remaining prison terms.
The Criminal Division of the Rabat Court of Appeal has delivered its verdict on members of the ‘Lions of the Caliphate’ cell, which is affiliated with the Daesh terrorist group and was dismantled in Morocco in February 2025. The total prison sentence handed down amounts to 151 years. The main defendant was sentenced to 23 years, while the other two were sentenced to 18 years each.
The other defendants received sentences of 12 years, six years and four years respectively. The authorities conducted nearly a year of surveillance before dismantling the cell. Members were arrested in Laâyoune, Casablanca, Fez, Taounate, Tangier, Azemmour, Guercif, Oulad Teima and Tamesna, on the outskirts of Rabat.
The cell was planning to attack Morocco under the direct influence of Abderrahmane Sahraoui, a prominent Daesh leader in the Sahel region and Libyan national.
Investigations led to the seizure of a large quantity of equipment intended for an imminent terrorist attack. This included ready-to-use explosive devices, materials suspected of being used in the manufacture of explosives and cutting weapons.
Source: https://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/185467/terrorisme-total-prison-pour-cellule.html
Between 1 and 7 January 2026, units of the People’s National Army conducted multiple nationwide security operations as part of ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-crime efforts, demonstrating a high state of readiness and operational effectiveness. During these operations, seven individuals were arrested for providing support to terrorist groups.
Source: https://www.mdn.dz/site_principal/sommaire/actualites/ar/2026/janvier/lutte08012026ar.php
On 3 January 2026, Tunisian security forces foiled a terrorist operation in Feryana, Kasserine governorate, eliminating Seddik El Abidi, a member of the ISIS-affiliated Jund Al-Khilafah battalion, and arresting an accomplice. The pre-emptive operation was carried out following precise intelligence and aimed at preventing attacks on civilians and security forces. Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify possible links to other extremist cells and sources of support, as security forces continue counter-terrorism operations in western border regions.
Source: https://libyaupdate.com/tunisian-security-foils-a-terrorist-operation-in-kasserine/
On 31 December 2025 the Egyptian Second Terrorism Chamber considered the trial of 4 defendants involved in the crimes of the dome gardens. From 2015 to 2020, the defendants formed and led a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda. The first defendant was also charged with possession of a non-detested forearm, while all the defendants are accused of financing terrorism and exploiting social media to disseminate information.
On 31 December 2025 the Egyptian Second Terrorism Chamber considered the trial of 5 defendants accused of joining Al-Qaeda. The referral order stated that from 2013 to 2020 the first defendant assumed leadership of a terrorist group that used violence to endanger public safety. The remaining defendants were charged with joining said group, monitoring the Minya Security Directorate to target its forces, and financing terrorism.
On 29 December 2025 the Egyptian First Circuit of Terrorism started the trial of six defendants accused of establishing a terrorist group by using social media sites, issuing assignments and messages through social media, financing terrorism, and plotting attacks on Christian churches. Public reporting suggests that the network is associated with the Muslim-brotherhood or Islamist militant support networks.
On 28 December 2025 the Egyptian First Circuit Terrorism Court sentenced Tariq Urban, known as Rabaa’a poet, to 15 years in prison. The defendant is accused of initiating the murder of an officer and planning terrorist acts. The defendant was first arrested in 2015 following his attack on a policeman.
On 27 December 2025 the Egyptian First Circuit heard the trial of a Takfirist accused of founding a terrorist group at the reform and rehabilitation center. Investigations showed that the group used terrorism as a main means to carry out its criminal purposes.
On 27 December 2025 the Egyptian Second Terrorism Chamber postponed the trial of 214 defendants accused of joining ISIS. The referral order stated that from 2013 to 2023 defendants 1-8 took the lead of a terrorist group with the intent to disrupt public order. The remaining defendants are accused of joining the terrorist cell with the same intent. Several defendants also received military training. The 81st and second defendants, identified as Egyptian, joined an armed group based outside the country. Lastly, the first, 50th, and 53rd defendants face charges of murder.
On 26 November 2025 Moroccan security forces arrest an alleged supporter of Daesh. The defendant, a 26-year old in Tetouan, was reportedly in the imminent education phase of a dangerous terrorist plot. The defendant was also found disseminating content on Daesh terrorist operations.
Sources: https://ledesk.ma/encontinu/arrestation-a-tetouan-dun-partisan-presume-de-daech/
On 20 December 2025 the First Terrorism Chamber considered the trial of 37 defendants as part of the assembly cell. From 2013 to 2023 defendants are accused of joining ISIS, financing acts of terrorism by receiving money, documents, and food to provide the terrorist group with the necessary resources.
On 20 December 2025 the Egyptian First Circuit of Terrorism postponed the trial of 11 defendants known as the ISIS Al-Haram Cell to March 15. The referral order stated that from 2021 to 2024 the first defendant founded and led a terrorist group with the intent to harm the state and public. The remaining defendants joined with knowledge of the group’s purposes and committed crimes of terrorism financing, surveilling attack locations, and receiving weapons training.
On 16 December 2025 the Second Terrorism Court postponed the trial of 64 defendants accused of joining a terrorist group and smuggling terrorists abroad in the case known as the New Cairo Cell to February 24.
Source: https://dfatermasr.net/?p=1631
On 15 December 2025 the Algerian Criminal Court imposed a 7-year sentence with a fine of 1 million dinars on a university student from Dina Baraki for allegedly traveling to Turkey to join ISIS. The student implicated Dr. Zakaria Al-Makni for his involvement in the case. Dr. Zakaria served a 7-year prison sentence in Syria for a separate terrorism case.
On 12 December 2025 Egyptian security forces dismantled an ISIS-affiliated terrorist cell. Egyptians arrested the suspects in the Belqaid neighborhood in the Bir Al-Jir municipality east of Oran after an investigation uncovered the dissemination of terrorist ideas. Upon the defendants arrest, security forces uncovered leaflets calling for the individuals to join the ranks of armed groups and a group of computers containing inflammatory material. One of the terrorists, identified as Abu Musab, revealed his plans to join ISIS in the Sahel.
On 12 December 2025 the First Terrorism Circuit considered the trial of 23 defendants in the case of the financial support committees. From 2011 to 2024 the first and third defendants led a terrorist group within specialized committees across different governorates. The remaining defendants joined the group with knowledge of its purposes.
On 11 December 2025 the Tunisisian criminal chamber sentenced Bilel Chaouachi, also known as Abou Yahya Zakaria, to 55 years in prison for his involvement in terrorist organizations. Chaouachi is best known for his involvement in Ansar Al-Sharia and Daesh. Judicial files reveal his active involvement in Jabhat Al-Nusra and then Daesh in Syria where he was an active fighter and spokesperson. Tunisian authorities placed Chaouachi on its terrorist list in 2019 his assets were then frozen.
On 09 December 2025 the Criminal Chamber Commission postponed the trial of 22 Takfirist accused of planning to carry out a terrorist operation. Security forces uncovered the cell after an investigation of Jabal Al-Shahanabi’s cell phone, an eliminated terrorist. Investigations uncovered that he supervised the formation of a takfirist cell and prepared to carry out terrorist operations.
On 24 November 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism sentenced 9 leaders of the Ennahdha movement to two to 12 years in prison. The state charged the 9 leaders with conspiring against the state and spreading disinformation.
On 21 November 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber sentenced Elyes Chaouachi, the son of the former secretary general of Attayar, Ghazi Chaouachi, to twelve years in prison. Elyes was found guilty of several counts related to terrorism including the constitution of a terrorist group and the incentive to attack citizens. Beyond the 21 November verdict Elyes faces a total of 38 years in prison.
On 15 November 2025 the Egyptian First Circuit of Terrorism issued the ruling of those accused in the Al-Waraq cell. The order revealed that the cell operated from 2013 to 2016 with the goal of disrupting public order and endangering public security. The referral order also charged the defendants of participating in a criminal agreement to commit terrorism by forcefully changing the system of government.
On 12 November 2025 the Criminal Court of Appeal of Terrorism postponed the retrial of a person accused of joining a terrorist group to December 17. Investigations revealed that the accused joined a terrorist group, in the Al-Badrshin area, that aims to use violence, threats, and intimidation at home for the purposes of disrupting public safety.
On November 10 2025 the Second Terrorism Chamber considered the trial of 23 defendants accused in the qualitative committee case. The referral order stated that from 2020 to 2021 defendants 1 & 2 took command of a terrorist group intending to violently disrupt public order. The remaining defendants joined the aforementioned terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes and committed crimes of financing terrorism and facilitated the transportation of weapons, machines, and data.
On 09 November 2025 the Second Terrorism Circuit heard the case of 213 defendants accused of the Al-Nozha cell. Investigations discovered that from 192 to 2024 the defendants took the lead of a terrorist group with the intentions of harming the state, security personnel, and the public. Several defendants were also accused of financing terrorism.
Source: https://www.elbalad.news/6759789
On 24 October 2025 the Tunisian indictment chamber referred several figures of salafi jihadists to the criminal chamber. Among those referred is Bilel Chaouachi, former spokesman for the jihadist salafist movement and member of Ansar al Chariaa; Adel Ghandri who is already serving life imprisonment for assaulting a military judge and smuggling weapons; and Wannes Fekih who is known as the leader jihadist salafism in Tunisia.
On 20 October 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber, in absentia, sentenced for a period of 22 years Al-Moncef Al-Marzouki, his former adviser Imad Al-Dami, and former Birgan of Lawyers Abdel Razzaq Al-Kilani. Al-Marzouki Al-Marzouki is best known for serving as the interim Tunisian president during its post-arab spring transition.
On 26 September 2025 the indictment chamber referred former Minister Munther Al-Zanaidi to the attention of the Criminal Chamber for Terrorism. The prosecution decided to open an investigation into the minister for suspicions related to the formation of an agreement to conspire against state security, form a terrorist agreement, and conspire against internal security.
On September 24, 2025, the Chief of Staff of the Algerian People’s National Army (ANP) announced that the ANP had eliminated six terrorists during operations in Tébessa, eastern Algeria. The ANP also recovered six Kalashnikov machine guns.
On 22 September 2025, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi pardoned several activists, notably Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abdel Fattah. The pardon came as a response to a plea from the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights. The presidential pardon covered the remaining sentences for Abdel Fattah, Saeed Maghly El-Daw Aliwa, Karam Abdel Samie El-Saadany, Walaa Gamal Saad Mohamed, Mohamed Abdel Abdel Latif, and Mansour Abdel Razek.
On 15 September 2025 Egyptian Terrorism Circuit Court heard the trial of 5 defendants charged with joining a terrorist group in the case known as the ISIS Helwan cell. The referral order stated that from 2018 to 2022 the first and second defendants established and led a terrorist group with the intent to forcefully change the government. Egypt also charged the defendants with crimes of financing terrorism and using Telegram to exchange messages and instructions among members of the group.
On September 14 2025 the Egyptian Terrorism chamber considered the trial of 34 defendants in the case known as ISIS Dokki. The referral order stated that from January to December 2021 defendants 1-6 established leadership of an ISIS cell. Defendants 7-34 were charged with joining a terrorist group that used violence to disrupt public order. Defendants 28-34 were also charged with financing terrorism, spreading ISIS ideologies, and organizing meetings.
On 14 September 2025 the Second Circuit of Terrorism considered the trial of 8 defendants accused in 2024 ISIS Nasr city case. The referral order stated that from 2019 to 2023 defendant 1 assumed control of an ISIS cell while defendants 2 to 7 joined the cell knowing its intentions. All 8 defendants were charged with financing terrorism and educating the group about Islamic state ideals.
Source: https://www.elbalad.news/6697114
On 10 August 2025 the Moroccan Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations in collaboration with the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance arrested an 18-year old Daesh affiliate in Douar El Amarna, the Settat province. The suspect is accused of preparing a terrorist attack and remaining in contact with North African Islamic State operatives.
Source: https://ledesk.ma/encontinu/settat-age-de-18-ans-un-sympathisant-de-daech-arrete-par-le-bcij/
On 06 August 2025 the Algeria Ministry of National Defense reported that it arrested five elements during operations carried out in Khenchla, eastern Algeria. In a press statement the ministry revealed the destruction of 12 terrorist hideouts and 13 mines alongside the arrests.
On 30 July 2025 the Egyptian Criminal and State Security Court postponed the trial of a terrorist belonging to the Sinai province organization ISIS affiliate to September 20. The prosecution referred the accused on charges of joining a terrorist group, endangering public safety, embracing ISIS ideas, attacking members of the armed forces, and plotting terrorist attacks.
On 14 September 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism sentenced Al-Khatib Al-Idrissi to 22 years in prison for allegedly attempting to join and fight alongside a Syrian terrorist organization. Al-Idrissi is known as the leader of the Salafi movement in Tunisia and was previously suspended in 2016 based on the issuance of a judicial arrest card.
On 08 July 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism sentenced a number of political and security opponents to prison. Defendants Mehrez Zouari, Abdelkarim Laabidi, Habib Ellouze, Kamel Bedou, Fethi Beldi, Rayen Hamzouai were all tried remotely and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Rached Ghannouchi, historical leader of the Ennahdha movement, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Several defendants, including Nadka Akakcha the former head of the presidential cabinet, were sentenced to 35 years in absentia.
On 24 June 2025 the Egyptian Second Terrorism Chamber postponed the trial of 8 defendants accused of joining ISIS to September 14. The order stated that from 2019 to 2023 defendant 1 took leadership of a group embracing ISIS ideology and educated its members of terrorist ideals. The remaining defendants were charged with joining said group with knowledge of its purpose.
Sources: https://www.youm7.com/story/2025/6/24/%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%83%D9%85%D8%A9-8-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%87%D9 %85%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A9-14/7032786 and https://www.elbalad.news/6762756
On June 14 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism set the date for the trial of former minister Mahdi Ben Gharbia and the leader of the Ennahda Movement Ahmed Al-Amari. The two defendants are charged in a case of terrorist suspicion.
On 13 May 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism sentenced the former counselor at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ali Al-Lafi, to eight years in prison on charges of terrorism. The Court also sentenced a former professor accused of collaborating to three years in prison.
On 02 May 2025 the fifth criminal chamber specializing in terrorism sentenced 8 defendants to a range of 18 to 36 years. The 8 defendants include Ali Laarayedh, vice-president of the Ennahdha movement, Fathi Beld, Abdelkrim Abidi, Noureddine Guendouz, Lofti Hammi, Hichem Saadi, Sami Chaar, and Seifeddine Erraies. The 8 defendants face a series of terrorist accusations including the constitution of a terrorist agreement, deliberate membership on Tunisisan territory, the use of national territory to commit crimes against a foreign country, and the assistance of terrorists abroad.
Source: https://www.tap.info.tn/fr/Portail-%C3%A0-la-Une-FR-top/18725653-affaire-d-envoi-des
On 16 April 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber specializing in terrorism sentenced Tunisian Activist Hela Gharbia to twelve-years in prison absentia. Gharbia is being prosecuted under several terrorist charges, specifically a terrorist agreement, incitement to join it, plotting against the state’s security, and attempting to sow chaos.
King Mohammed VI has granted a royal pardon to Abdelkader Belliraj, a Belgian-Moroccan convicted of leading a radical Islamist network and sentenced to life in prison.
Belliraj was among the 31 inmates convicted in extremism and terrorism-related cases who received clemency after officially renouncing their beliefs and expressing their commitment to national values, according to a statement from the Ministry of Justice. Arrested in 2008, Belliraj was sentenced to life in prison the following year for leading a radical Islamist network and carrying out six murders in Belgium in the late 80s and early 90s — charges he has consistently denied. His sentence was upheld on appeal in 2010. In the same trial, 34 co-defendants received sentences ranging from suspended prison terms to 30 years. Some of them, including political figures from moderate Islamist parties, were granted royal pardons in 2011. Human rights advocates criticized the 2009 mass trial, citing “serious violations” of the defendants’ rights.
Since 2012, several co-defendants, including politicians and a journalist, have been released through royal pardons — some for health reasons, while others had completed their sentences. Belliraj remained one of the last convicts still behind bars until his recent release.
On 25 March 2025 the Tunisian Criminal Chamber postponed the trial of Shaker Al-Jandoubi who is accused of leading and recruiting for the banned ISIS affiliated Ansar al-Sharia organization . Al-Jandoubi is known to have traveled to Syria in 2025 to fight before defecting from ISIS and fleeing to Turkey where he was then deported to Tunisia.
On 19 March 2025 Tunisian journalist Zyna Mjri announced that she was the subject of two terrorist complaints. The first accused her of belonging to a terrorist organization while the second accused her of plotting against state security. Mejri is a prolific Tunisian journalist known for her investigative work focused on human rights and political misinformation.
On 19 February 2025 the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) and the Directorate-General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) dismantled a Daesh affiliated terrorist cell. Moroccan security forces arrested 12 terrorists in Laayoune, Casablanca, Fez, Taounate, Tangier, Azemmoir, among other cities. The arrested terrorists were linked to a senior Islamic State executive based in the Sahel responsible for what is known as the external operations committee in the Saheli-Saharan region. The cell focused on targeting law enforcement.
On 16 February 16 the Algerian Criminal Court postponed the trial of the accused terrorist Dabaghi Mohammed. The defendant was allegedly attempting to flee before being arrested.The defendant is accused of involving himself in a terrorist organization active on the outskirts of the capital and the Bouzaza mountains.
On 16 February 2025 the Algerian Criminal Court postponed the trial involving prominent leaders in the dissolved Islamic Salvation Front Party. The Islamic Salvation Front was a powerful Islamist political movement that was dissolved in 1992. Most of the leaders involved are repentant terrorists who benefited from procedures of amnesty. The two main defendants are Ali bin Hajar the former leader of the Islamic Armed Group, one of the more violent Islamist militant organizations to emerge from Algeria’s civil war, and Zawi Ahmed, formerly involved in the Turkmen Nasr al-Din.
On 04 February 2025 the Internal Security Agency announced that it dismantled a banned terrorist organization planning a series of attacks targeting military and security sites. The agency stated that the group had been using a false identity to recruit new members and spread extremist propaganda. Further investigation found that the organization had established external contracts to secure logistical support, including explosive and drone materials. A secret facility used for weapons and bomb-making was also uncovered and dismantled.
On 27 December 2024 the Tunisian National Guard in Tunis, Sousse, and Bizerte each arrested an individual belonging to a terrorist organization. The Directorate General of the National Guard stated that all necessary legal procedures had been put in place.
On 21 December 2024 the Libyan Internal Security Agency in Benghazi dismantled an al-Nustra Front affiliated Syrian terrorist cell plotting to disrupt the country’s security. The cell infiltrated Libya in 2021 by posing as laborers and was tasked with gathering intelligence and recruiting Syrian operatives to carry out attacks. Upon arresting the cell, authorities found detailed maps of sensitive Libyan sites along with sophisticated communication equipment. Authorities added that the cell had previously fought alongside the al-Nusra Front in the Syrian city of Daraa and had received intensive combat training before moving to Libya.
The al-Nusra Front is one of the most capable al-Qa-ida affiliated groups operating in Syria. The group launched itself in 2012 and has since conducted hundreds of attacks against security forces. The group is composed primarily of Syrian nationals, many of whom are veterans of previous conflicts.
On 19 December 2024 a terrorist by the name of Benjhia Kouali surrendered to military authorities of Bordj Badji Mokhtar. Kouli was in possession of a Kalashnikov submachine gun and ammunition. An additional 9 elements of support for the terrorist groups were arrested in various operations conducted by the National People’s Army from December 11 to 17.
On 12 December 2024 the Penal Chamber of the Court of First Instances of Tunis, specialized in terrorism, sentenced three defendants to death by hanging and double life imprisonment. The court labeled the defendants as members of the Jund al-Khalifa cell, a former al-Qaeda and present ISIS affiliate involved in slaughtering soldiers and manufacturing explosives. The defendants are named as Raed Touati, Oussama Khazri, and Yassine Gannouni. Touati is also accused of escaping from Mornaguia prison while Khazri and Gannouni are accused of killing 8 soldiers in Chaambi in 2013 and plotting to target military personnel with explosives.
On 05 December 2024 Tunisian authorities referred Bechr Chebbi, a member of the dissolved parliament, and Rafi Bouchleka, leader of the Ennahdha party, to the criminal chamber specialized in terrorist activities. The two defendants are accused of terrorism acts due to certain public statements and publications deeming inciting violence.
On 05 December 2024 the Egyptian government designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist entity and added 15 members to its terrorism list for a period of five years. Those added were Yahya Sayed Moussa, Ali Sayed Ahmed, Jihad Essam Al-Hadad, Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Baraka, Ahmed Ibrahim, Mohamed Hassan Ahmed, Amin al-Saeed, Mohammed Abdel Halim, Khalid Tariq Qandeel, Mohamed Abdel Hakim Mohamed, Mohamed Farhat Abu al-Ala, Ahmed Mohamed Amin.
On 25 November 2024 the Egyptian Criminal Court, upon the request of the Public Prosecution, removed the names of 716 individuals from the terrorism list. The move is part of a broader effort by Egyptian authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of the status of those on the lists of terrorist entities and terrorists.
On 22 November 2024 the Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance collaborated with Spanish police to dismantle an Islamic State terrorist cell consisting of nine members, six of which were active in Spain and three in Morocco. Moroccan security personnel arrested the Moroccan terrorists in Tetouan and Fnideq. Moroccan and Spanish security personnel also seized white weapons and computer equipment.
On 11 November 2024 the Criminal Chamber at the Tunis Court of First Instances specialized in terrorism cases sentenced Maher Zid to 25 years in prison. Maher Zid was the former parliamentary deputy of the Islamist Al-Kamara coalition. The Al Kamara coalition is a breakaway faction of the Islamist Ennahdha party formed in 2019. The judgement was rendered in absentia as Zid had fled the country.
On 03 November 2024 the First Chamber of the Criminal Court sentenced those involved in the media cell case. The defendants were charged with leading a terrorist group, possessing a drone for surveillance equipment, and financing terrorism. The defendants in charge of the terrorist cell were Moataz Matar, Hamza Zuba, Muhammed Nasser, Abdullah Al-Sharif, Mr. Tawakkol, Abdul Rahman Zaghloul, Jalal Jibril, Musab Abdul Hamid, Mohammed Al-Khatib, and Yasser Al-Hawari. The court sentenced the aforementioned defendants to life in prison and another six to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment.
On 08 October 2024 the anti-terrorism judicial pole authorized the national unit specialized in researching terrorism crimes to investigate citizen Hala Western on charges of forming a terrorist organization, inciting others to join, conspiring against security forces, and inciting violence. Hala Western was found to have downloaded and posted a video clip in which she attacked state institutions, their symbols, and the Tunisian government.
On 24 September 2024 the Egyptian Third Circuit of Terrorism postponed the trial of 13 defendants involved in the ISIS Kerdasa Cell until November 23. Located in the Giza Governorate, the Kerdasa cell was reportedly planning to disrupt public order and endanger the safety and security of the public. The defendants received weapons and explosives training with the intent to cause harm, financed the group, and provided weapons, ammunition, and a safe haven to its members.
On November 18 2024 the Algerian Ministry of Defense released a statement announcing that a detachment of the National People’s Army eliminated two terrorists during a search and combing operation in the military sector of Tabsa. The statement also stated that a semiautomatic rifle, ammunition, and a blade was seized.
On 11 September 2024 Tuniusian authorities announced the arrest of two individuals convicted of belonging to a terrorist organization. The General Directorate of the National Guard stated it had arrested a Takfiri individual in the Bizerte governorate. The individual was charged by the Court of Appeals in Tunis on charges of suspected membership of a terrorist organization and sentenced to 4 years in prison. The Directorate later stated that units in Kasserine arrested two people, one of which had spent 11 years in prison, was wanted in 19 cases, and was accused of belonging to a terrorist organization.
On 08 August 2024 Tunisia’s specialized terrorism indictment chamber referred the case of 21 defendants to a criminal chamber specialized in prosecuting terrorism related offenses. The defendants included Rached Ghannouchi, former president of the Tunisiasn Parliament and leader of the Ennahdha movement, Youssef Chahed, former Prime Minister, Nadia Akache, former director of the presidential cabinet, among other politicians.
Source: https://www.tap.info.tn/fr/Portail-Politique/17765816-renvoi-de-21
On 30 July 2024 South African authorities postponed the trial of 95 Libyans accused of illegally entering the country and training at an illegal military camp to August 5. The camp, located near White River City in Mpumalanga, was built as a training camp for a security company before being converted to train the Libyans. Political analyst Hamad Al-Kharaz, stated that the Libyans are likely affiliated with the September Movement, and intended to carry out illegal or terrorist activity inside Libya. Other analysts believe the defendants worked for Khalifa Haftar, head of the Benghazi government and Libyan National Army.
Sources: https://alwasat.ly/news/libya/446471 and https://alwasat.ly/news/libya/446996
On 15 July 2024, the Deterrence Apparatus to combat terrorism and organized crime arrested Muhammad Al-Ayeb, the son of the intelligence chief of Tripoli, for his involvement in an assaination attempt of Abdulmajeed Malikta. Al-Ayeb allegedly attempted to use a car bomb. Libyan journalist Mahmoud Hassan Al-Mirati in an official statement to the Attorney General reported that Al-Ayeb also attempted to target Mlaikta abroad. Abdulmajeed Mlaikta is a former member of the Libyan House of Representatives affiliated with the Libyan National Army.
On 28 June 2024 the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations arrested an extremist affiliated with Daesh. The arrest was a joint operation between the Moroccan Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance and French intelligence. The individual was pursuing her studies at a technical institute and was allegedly preparing the execution of an extremely dangerous terrorist plan.
On 19 June 2024 the Criminal Court of First Instances of Casablanca postponed 63 cases, 20 of which involved terrorism related crimes, to July 10. The case of terrorist Mohammed Zaitout, accused of engaging in a terrorist group is among those postponed. The other cases relate to engaging in a terrorist group, targeting state security, national unity, and promoting false news.
From June 11-17 2024 the National People’s Army (ANP) arrested 9 terrorists in various operations across the country according to an operational balance sheet of the ANP.
On 08 June 2024 the Third Circuit of Terrorism at the Supreme State Security Criminal Court postponed the trial of 111 defendants accused to be a part of the Taraa Hasm Terrorist Cell to August 11. The Taraa Hasm cell is part of the Hasm movement, a violent Islamist militant group operating in Egypt since at least 2015. The group has claimed responsibility for attacks on Egyptian security forces and was designated by the US Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity in 2017. National security checks revealed that fleeing members of the Hasm and Al-Thawra Brigade, the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, developed a plan to escalate hostilities by restructuring the groups under the Vanguard Hasm Movement and executing acts of terrorism. Investigations uncovered that the members received educational lessons to strengthen their conviction and theoretical and practical training on the dismantling, installation, and use of firearms.
Sources: https://www.masrawy.com/news/news_cases/details/2024/6/8/2594986/%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%83%D9%85%D8%A9-111-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%8011-%D8%A3%D8%BA%D8%B3%D8%B7%D8%B3 and https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/96467/US-Department-of-State-designates-HASM-as-%E2%80%98Foreign-Terrorist-Organization%E2%80%99 and https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2101686.html
On 06 June 2024 the Central Bureau of Judicial Research of the General Directorate for the Control of the National territory arrested four ISIS loyalists, aged 21-41, on suspicion of preparing to implement terrorist schemes. The arrests targeted the suspects in the cities of Sale, Tangier, and Tetouan. Moroccan security personnel also seized electronic equipment, white weapons, an ISIS slogan, explosive instructions, as well as Salafi-jihadi manuscripts. Research found that the suspects had established relationships with ISIS leaders active abroad.
From 05 June 2024 to 11 June 2024 the People’s National Army arrested three terrorists known as Bouhdjer Abdelaziz otherwise known as Aymen, Ouled El-Bekey Mohamed Lamine, known as Abou Ahmed, and Foulani Ibrahim, known as Abou Anas. The three terrorists reportedly possessed three submachine guns and ammunition.
Source: https://www.mdn.dz/site_principal/sommaire/actualites/an/2024/juin/lutte12062024an.php
On 29 May 2024 the Egyptian Third Terrorism Circuit began the trial for 73 defendants accused of joining a terrorist group. Charged under the Article 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, the law stipulates that the establishment or management of a terrorist group and/or acts is punishable by death or life imprisonment. Those who join a terrorist group or participate in any way face no less than ten years in prison.
On 23 May 2024 the Directorate General of the National Guard reported that an individual linked to terrorist organizations and subject to several arrest warrants was detained by security forces. The individual was apprehended by a joint patrol of the National Guard intelligence units and antiterrorism brigade.
Source: https://www.tap.info.tn/fr/Portail-R%C3%A9gions/17495560-sfax-mise-en
On 03 May 2024 the Directorate General for the Control of the National Territory dismantled a terrorist cell of 5 ISIS loyalists suspected to be planning a terrorist attack. Moroccan security forces arrested the suspects in Casablanca, Tangier, Tetouan, Martil, and the village of Onaga. Prior research indicated that the suspects had pledged allegiance to the caliph of ISIS and at least one member had explosive experience.
On 01 May 2024 the Algerian Ministry of Defense released a statement claiming that National People’s Army operations conducted from April 25 to 30 led to the elimination of the terrorist B. Samir, otherwise known as Abu Dha. The statement asserted that Abu Dha was in possession of a pistol, Kalashnikov machine guns, and a quantity of ammunition.
On 30 April 2024 the Anti-Terrorist Judicial Pole’s Criminal Chamber, specialized in terrorism cases, rejected the release of businessman Fathi Dammak. Dammak is a Tunisian political figure who, alongside 11 other defendants, is accused of planning the 2013 assassination of Chokru Belaïd. Chokri Belaïd was a left-wing Tunisian politician known for his criticism of the Ennahdha party. Belaïd led the Democratic Patriots Unified Party.
On 20 April 2024 the Tunisian Interior Ministry announced the arrest of three terrorists, including a commander, involved in the Jund al-Khalifa Cell. Tunisian security forces arrested Mahmoud al-Salami, nicknamed the Emir of the Jund al-Khalifa Battalion alongside Seif al-Din Zabiba and his companion. The Tunisian Interior Ministry added that security forces also seized weapons, explosives, and an explosive belt. The Jund al-Khalifa Cell, a former al Qaeda affiliate and present ISIS affiliate is known for its attacks on security forces.
Sources: https://nan.media/en/tunisia-the-emir-of-the-ajnad-al-khilafat-battalion-was-arrested/ and https://ultratunisia.ultrasawt.com/%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%B6-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3/%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B9/%D8%A7%D9%94%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1
On 18 April 2024 a terrorist named Abou Youcef surrendered himself to military authorities in Bordj Badji Mokhtar. The National People’s Army arrested an additional 10 terrorists during separate operations across the country from April 10 to 17.
On 27 March 2024 the fifth criminal chamber at the Tunis Court of First Instances, specialized in terrorism, sentenced four defendants to death and two to life imprisonment for assassinating Chokri Belaïd. The chamber also handed down sentences ranging from two to 120 years for a number of defendants involved in the case. Chokri Belaïd was a left-wing Tunisian politician known for his criticism of the Ennahdha party. Belaïd led the Democratic Patriots Unified Party.
Source: https://www.tap.info.tn/en/Portal-Top-News-EN/17285849-bela%C3%AFd-case?
On 23 March 2024 the Egyptian Third Circuit of Terrorism postponed the trial of 35 defendants accused of foreign exchange trafficking outside the banking market and joining a terrorist group to May 11. The referral order stated that from 2013 to 2024, the defendants took command of a terrorist group with the intent to disrupt public order and endanger the safety, interests, and security of society. Further investigations showed that Brotherhood leaders abroad provided financial support to the group by lending funds for foreign exchange trafficking, smuggling foreign currency abroad, and laundering those funds into companies with the aim of committing hostilities.
On 17 March 2024 a patrol of the National Guard of Monastir arrested an individual wanted for belonging to a terrorist organization. The individual was previously sentenced by the Tunisian Court of First Instances in Tunis to 20 years in prison for terrorism-related activities. The National Guard’s research and inspection unit and the anti-terrorism prevention service carried out the operation.
Source: https://www.tap.info.tn/fr/Portail-Politique/17248054-arrestation-d-un
On 04 March 2024 the Egyptian Supreme Emergency State Security Court sentenced eight Muslim Brotherhood leaders to death for their role in the 2013 El-Nasr Road violence case. In 2013, the 8 defendants allegedly organized and incited followers to protest the military ousting of President Mohamed Morsi. The protests led to violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces along the El-Nasr Road. Those sentenced to death were the brotherhood’s supreme guide Mohamed Badie, Mahmoud Ezzat, Mohamed El-Beltagy, Amr Zaki, Osama Yassin, Safwat Hegazy, Assem Abdel Majed, and Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud. The court also sentenced 37 defendants to life imprisonment, six to 15 years imprisonment, seven to 10 years, and acquitted another 21.Those charged were accused of attacking citizens, harming national unity, supplying weapons, and orchestrating the attack.
Sources: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/518820.aspx and https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/07/29/prosecutor-general-releases-official-narrative-of-nasr-road-clashes/
On 03 March 2024 the First Circuit of Terrorism at the Supreme State Security Criminal Court, postponed the trial of 17 defendants accused of leading a terrorist cell, known as the media cell, to April 1. The defendants are charged with leading a terrorist group, possessing a drone for photography among other devices, and financing terrorism. The Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered the referral of the case to the Criminal Court of the Cairo Court of Appeals. The persons are charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law specified in Article 12.
On 27 February 2024 the Libyan prosecution ordered the detention of the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks that targeted the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Elections Commission, and the National Oil Corporation. The first Tripoli attack in May 2018 targeted the Electoral Commission and killed more than 20 people. The second attack, involving six gunmen, targeted the National Oil Corporation in 2018 and resulted in two deaths and ten injuries. The third Tripoli attack in December 2019 targeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, killing three citizens.
On 19 February 2024 a multi-unit counterterrorism force arrested a member of the Jund al-Khalfi terrorist organization in Kasserine. The individual was reportedly arrested in posession of a suicide belt and weapons. The individual joined Jund al-Khalifa in 2014 and was connected to multiple violent attacks, including the death of a shepherd.
Sources: https://dispatchrisk.com/tunisia-suspected-terrorist-arrested-in-kasserine-in-possession-of-explosives/ and https://ultratunisia.ultrasawt.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%B6-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%81/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3/%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9/%D8%A7%D9%94%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1
On 18 February 2024 the Criminal Court of Appeal of the Sidi Bel-Abbass Judicial Council issued four death sentences and one life sentence against terrorist Bahri Jilali, known as Al-Dhib Al-Jayan. The defendant was charged in five cases, dating from 1992 – 1996, of establishing an armed terrorist group, harming state security, intentional murder, destroying state property, and helping a terrorist group. The defendant most notoriously killed 11 male and female teachers in a single attack.
On 05 February 2024 the Egyptian First Circuit of Terrorism postponed the trial of No. 38 of 2023 to April 20. The case involves 37 defendants accused of joining, supporting, and plotting attacks in the name of ISIS. The 37 defendants reportedly joined ISIS from 2013 to 2023. ISIS taught 4 of the 37 defendants how to use, disassemble, and install weapons with the intention of committing attacks abroad and at home. Five of the defendants used WhatApps and Telegram to exchange messages and assignments related to terrorist attacks. The referral order also stated that 41 of the defendants gathered and sent money to the ISIS headquarters.
On 23 January 2024 the Egyptian government charged 19 student activists in the Third Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court with joining a terrorist group, financing said group, and using WhatsApp to organize and commit an act of terrorism. The leader, Moaz al-Sharkawy, was first arrested in 2018, coinciding with his name being listed in the state terrorism list. Al-Sharkawy spent two years in pre-trial detention before being released pending his trial. Egyptian authorities arrested al-Sharkawy again in 2023, allegedly disappearing him for 23 days. Al-Sharkawy was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Sources: https://eipr.org/en/press/2024/01/student-leader-moaz-al-sharqawi-and-others-referred-new-trial-terrorism-court; https://afteegypt.org/en/research-en/2024/06/04/37481-afteegypt.html#_ftn23 and https://cihrs.org/egypt-moaz-al-sharqawi-abducted-and-forcibly-disappeared-in-broad-daylight/?lang=en
On 20 January 2024 the Directorate-General of the National Guard announced the arrest of 22 takfirists convicted under the anti-terrorism law. The defendants were sentenced from a range of one to 13 years in prison for belonging to a terrorist organization. Takfirists refer to those who comply with Takfirism, an extremist Islamic ideology in which radical groups label other Muslims as infidels to justify violence. The arrests led by regional teams in collaboration with intelligence units took place across the Kasserine, Sfax, Kairouan, Tataouine, Sousse, Bizerte, Jendouba, Sidi Bouzid, Ariana, Fouchana, and Nabeul localities.
Source: https://businessnews.com.tn/2024/01/20/article-1203479/1203479/
On 19 January 2024 the Directorate-General of the National Guard announced the arrest of 13 takfirists convicted under the anti-terrorism law. The defendants were sentenced from a range of one to eleven years in prison for belonging to a terrorist organization. Takfirists refer to those who comply with Takfirism, an extremist Islamic ideology in which radical groups label other Muslims as infidels to justify violence. The arrests led by regional teams in collaboration with intelligence units took place across the Tabarka, Menzel Temime, Teboulba, Ariana, Sousse, Mahdia, Jendouba, Nabeul, Monastir, and Gafsa localities.
Source: https://businessnews.com.tn/2024/01/19/article-1203446/1203446/
On 17 January 2024 joint patriots of intelligence units and terrorism prevention services arrested 21 people belonging to a terrorist organization. The general administration of the National Guard reported that two women were among those arrested. The individuals were immediately sentenced to prison.
On 15 January 2024 the General Directorate of the National Guard stated that 4 individuals in Siliana, Qafsa, and Ben Arouss were arrested on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organization. The defendants have been sentenced from a range of two to three years.
On 11 January 2024 the indictment chamber of the Tunis Court of Appeal referred eight suspects in the case known as the transfer to zones of tension to the Criminal Chamber specialized in terrorism. Among the accused are Ali Laaridh, Abdel Krim Laabidi, Fathi Al Baldi, and the spokesperson for the Ansar al-Sharia organization, Seifeddine Al Rais.
On 05 January 2024 Judicial Court for the fight against terrorism extended the detention of Bechir Akremi by four months. Bechir Akremi, a former magistrate, was arrested in February of 2023 by the anti-terrorist brigade. Akremi was indicted by several anti-terrorism laws. The Assocication of Victims of Torture in Tunisia and Alkaram submitted the arrest of Akremi to the UN Working Group on Arbitary Detentions.
On 05 January 2024 the Libyan Deterrence Apparatus announced the arrest of an ISIS Wali known as Hashim Abu Sidra. The Apparatus reported that the Wali was responsible for facilitating the entry of terrorists into the country and their movement between cities. An Islamic State Wāli is a senior mid-level administrator tasked with governing a defined geographic area known as a Wilāyah or province. The Islamic State has established three Wilāyah’s in Libya, Wilayat Tarablus, Barqa, and Fezzan.
Sources: https://lana.gov.ly/post.php?lang=ar&id=299070&utm_campaign=nabdapp.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=nabdapp.com&ocid=Nabd_App and https://libyaobserver.ly/news/libyan-deterrence-apparatus-arrests-isis-member-libya
On 04 January the Internal Security Service announced the arrest of a member of ISIS and Syrian national known as Abu Wael. The agency reported that the defendant entered the country legally by changing his appearance. The agency published the defendant’s confession in which he admitted to pledging allegiance to ISIS and legally moving from Syria into Lebanon before entering Libya. The defendant resided in Libya, specifically the Tajoura, Anin Zara, and Al-Seyahia area for more than six months.
On 03 January 2024 the Libyan Attorney General announced the release of 20 detainees at the DACOCT. Libyan authorities formed a committee to study the situation of the detainees, inspect institutions, and identify the names of detainees whose conditions were not addressed. The deterrence apparatus referred to 1,231 cases during 2023, 38 of which belonged to the Islamic State in Libya.
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