Salafi group says Iraq’s ISIS has no presence in Sudan

July 13, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s traditional Salafi group Ansar al-Sunnah has criticised the Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria (ISIS), a jihadist group active in both countries, asserting it has no presence in the East African nation.

Sudanese tourism minister Abdel Karim Alhud, who represents Ansar al-Sunnah in the national government, criticised ISIS on Sunday, saying it is a Shiite group that has no existence or followers in Sudan.

Alhud asserted that his group stands against those who fight the Muslims, adding they are “still sceptical about the movement “which aborted the Syrian Revolution”.

Ansar al-Sunnah group, which is closely linked to the Saudi Arabia, calls to correct ways in which the Islamic faith was practised but stands strongly against Salafi jihadist or Takfiri groups that preach the use of violence.

In June, Sunni ISIS fighters captured Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest town and have now threatened to take the control of more areas.

The leader of the radical group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proclaimed himself as the Caliph of Muslims and called for jihad (holy war) for the sake of God.

Earlier this month, ISIS released a map of the Islamic caliphate or state the group’s intends to establish. The map includes three provinces in Africa among which “Habasha”, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia.

(ST)