The Islamic State group is threatening Libya’s fragile peace and gaining ground in the country by aligning with human smuggling networks, according to experts. These relationships could facilitate the movement of terrorists into Libya through smuggling routes used by irregular migrants in Chad, Mali, Niger and Sudan into southern Libya, Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper reported. While the Islamic State (IS) group is present throughout Libya, it is more of a danger in the south, with links to the Sahel, according to The Jamestown Foundation. IS and al-Qaida leaders also use sea routes to move from Iraq and Syria to Libya and other African nations. In August, the Libyan Intelligence Service dismantled three IS-linked cells in southern Libya that had international connections in Africa and Europe.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 24, 2026 17:31 UTC