The social structures in the tri-border maritime area states have allowed IS to capitalise on the smuggling networks, arms caches, jihadism and tribalism, write Jasminder Singh and Muhammad Haziq Jani.

THE self-proclaimed Islamic State’s designation of a wilayah (province) in southern Philippines is a strategic move by the terrorist organisation to establish its presence in the region. IS has proven that the hoisting of a radical utopian symbolism is enough, both as a rallying call and a mode of terror.

IS welcomed Southeast Asian terrorists into its fold, forming a Southeast Asian brigade known as Katibah Nusantara (KN). It accepted the bai’aat (pledges of allegiance) of distant supporters and promised to announce a new wilayah in the Philippines once conditions were favourable. It selected an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader, Isnilon Hapilon, as its emir in the Philippines.

… Jasminder Singh is a Senior Analyst and Muhammad Haziq Jani a Research Analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.