August 2020 MLM
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VOLUME XI, ISSUE 8, AUGUST 2020 THE JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION Islamic State Ibrahim Sadr: The Shadowy Shaykh Hassan The Hardline Leader of the Hussein Adam: al- Obituary PMU Confronting Shabaab’s Profiles the Life Former Military Ideologue Shaping of Slain Chief the U.S. in Iraq— Abdul-Aziz al- BRIEF the Insurgent Maldivan Maintaining Response to Muhammadawi Jihadist Ahmad Influence Over COVID-19 Nishwan SUDHA JOHN FOULKES SUNGUTA WEST ANIMESH ROUL RAMACHANDRAN RAMI JAMEEL VOLUME XI, ISSUE 8 | AUGUST 2020 Notorious Islamic State Kidnapper Susukan is a sub-commander of the ASG faction Arrested in the Philippines—Idang led by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who is also Susukan purportedly the acting emir of Islamic State in East Asia (ISEA) (see MLM, August 6; Manila Bulletin, August 13). Before his arrest, Susukan John Foulkes was based out of the Tilapao municipality in southern Jolo Island. [1] ASG factions are based On August 13, the Philippines National Police around interlinked clans or families, and the (PNP) arrested Anduljihad ‘Idang’ Susukan, a Susukan clan is no exception. His family has sub-commander of the Abu Sayyaf Group been involved in the local insurgency for several (ASG) (Rappler, August 13). Susukan was decades. Idang Susukan’s brother, Mujib arrested in Davao City, on the island of Susukan, was a key leader of ASG who was Mindanao, in the home of Moro National killed in a shootout with Filipino forces in May Liberation Front (MNLF) faction leader Nur 2003. Another brother, Jaber Susukan, was killed Misuari. Misuari had facilitated the negotiations by the AFP in June, 2017 (Anadolu Agency, June behind Susukan’s surrender after Malaysian 3, 2017). media reported sightings of him walking freely in Davao City (The Star, August 13; CNN Susukan has been active in kidnapping tourists Philippines, August 13). A total of 34 arrest and fishermen for ransom on the east coast of warrants existed against Susukan for kidnappings Sabah since 2013. During this time, he was and killings in the southern Filipino islands and connected to Malaysian insurgents Zulkifli the east coast of the Malaysian province of Abdihur and Amin Baco (Manila Bulletin, Sabah. His history and career highlights the August 13). On April 2, 2014, he was involved in difficulty Southeast Asian governments face in the kidnapping of a Chinese and Filipino combatting criminal and terrorism networks national from a resort in Seporna, Sabah. A operating over maritime boundaries in this Chinese and a Malaysian national were volatile part of the region. kidnapped from a fish farm in Kunak, Sabahon May 6, 2014, and June 16, 2014, respectively, by 1 VOLUME XI, ISSUE 8, AUGUST 2020 THE JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION Susukan and his followers. Susukan was also connected to the kidnapping of Malaysian AFP and PNP officials said in the days following tourist Bernard Then on May 14, 2015. Then Susukan’s arrest that they would be vigilant for was beheaded on November 15, 2015 potential reprisal attacks. Such an attack (Inquirer.net, August 13). appeared to have taken place when twin bombings hit the city of Jolo on August 24, In February 2019, Susukan was involved in a killing 14 and injuring 75 (Rappler, August 24). significant clash between soldiers from the ISEA claimed responsibility for the attack in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and ASG. days following the bombings (Inquirer.net, Sawadjaan reportedly was present in leading his August 26). Some analysts linked the attack to forces in the fight (see MLM, August 6). Susukan’s arrest, though the AFP has not Reportedly, over 100 ASG insurgents engaged in definitively labelled the attack as being directly the intense firefight with the Fifth Scout Ranger connected (GMA News, August 25; The Star, Battalion in Patikul, Sulu province (CNN August 25). Local officials have alleged that a Philippines, February 3, 2019). Although it was female suicide bomber involved in the attack had first reported that Susukan had been killed in this links to Mundi Sawadjaan, who is the nephew of encounter, it later emerged that he had survived, the ISEA emir and a sub-leader of the group but lost his left arm in the fight (Daily Express, with experience in bombmaking. The Sawadjaan February 10, 2019). faction’s responsibility for the attack would lend some credence to the reprisal theory. Reportedly, as a consequence of this serious injury, Susukan surrendered to Nur Misuari and Susukan’s militant career relied on the ease of his faction of the MNLF on Jolo Island in April movement and lack of oversight that exists in the 2020 (Rappler, August 13). Though Misuari is an maritime territories of the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas. MNLF leader who has been fighting for Most of the kidnappings led by Susukan took Mindanao independence since the 1970s and place in Sabah province and involved the currently has a warrant out for his arrest, he has kidnapping of Malaysians or foreign national recently been engaging in peace negotiations tourists, who would be spirited away over these with the Filipino government. Misuari led seas to Sulu province, from where the ASG MNLF forces in a siege of Zambanoanga City in militants would demand ransom. The 2013, in an attempt to seize the city from the kidnapping operations involved networks of Filipino government. Susukan reportedly took informants and spotters located in Sabah, and part in this operation (Philippines Star, August the money earned from ransom would go to 14). Misuari has since worked with Filipino purchase needed weapons and support ASG clan President Robert Duterte to facilitate the and patronage networks. surrender of ISEA and ASG terrorists in an attempt to redeem his reputation with Manila Kidnappings for ransom declined in the Sulu- (CNN Philippines, August 13; Straits Times, Sulawesi Seas in 2017, with no kidnappings August 15). Susukan stayed with Misuari in Jolo taking place between March 2017-September Island until early August, when the two 2018. Several factors were responsible for this reportedly travelled to Davao City to have drop-off. These include: some factions receiving Susukan fitted for a prosthetic arm. At this time, direct funding from Islamic State and no longer and following the publication of his presence in requiring resources provided by kidnapping; the the city, Susukan surrendered to the police (The killing of ASG leaders and the deaths of Star, August 13). numerous militants in the Battle of Marawi; and 2 VOLUME XI, ISSUE 8, AUGUST 2020 THE JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION greater maritime and intelligence cooperation Shaykh Hassan Hussein between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, as demonstrated by the joint Adam: al-Shabaab’s Trilateral Maritime Patrol program (Straits Ideologue Shaping the Times, June 20, 2017; Inquirer.net, October 25, 2017). [2] Insurgent Response to COVID-19 The increase in kidnappings, crime, and violence in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas since 2018 is likely the Sunugta West result of new leaders taking the place of those killed as well as a greater need for funding from Shaykh Hassan Hussein Adam is an ideological local militant networks. The trilateral efforts and spiritual leader of al-Shabaab who has done between the Philippines, Malaysia, and the most to shape how the Somalia-based Indonesia can partially claim credit for the militant group has responded to the COVID-19 temporary decrease in cross-border crimes, but pandemic. His opinion on the virus is the latest their military response does nothing to change missive from the 41-year-old cleric whose past the kidnapping industry that is deeply rooted in pronouncements have held sway over the al- Sulu province’s clan and political dynamics. It is Qaeda affiliate in East Africa. quite likely that had Susukan not lost his arm and surrendered, he would have continued to For years, fighters within al-Shabaab have kidnapfishermen and tourists from the Sulu- considered Adam their non-official mufti, an Sulawesi Seas. His arrest is a temporary setback Islamic jurist qualified to issue a nonbinding for ASG that in the short-term will upend their opinion (fatwa) on a point of Islamic law (Sharia). kidnapping for ransom operations. The greater The fighters and supporters have also treated his threat of instability in the region, however, will opinion as compulsory and binding (Intelligence continue unless regional countries continue to Briefs, March 23, 2015). increase their intelligence sharing and military cooperation and the Philippines improves its According to news reports, the charismatic governance of both the Sulu province and the ideologue rose to fame in 2008, a period when wider Muslim-majority provinces in its south, al-Shabaab is believed to have first started and provide economic alternatives to militant making inroads into Kenya. Around that same activity. time, young and more militant Islamic preachers replaced the moderate ones, especially in John Foulkes is the Editor of Militant Leadership mosques in Eastleigh, a neighborhood in Nairobi Monitor. nicknamed ‘Little Mogadishu’ due to its large concentration of ethnic Somalis. Notes Adam is considered sharp, articulate, and a [1] Protecting the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas from Abu Sayyaf hardline cleric who knows his mission. From Attacks (p. 3, Rep. No. 53). (2019). Jakarta, Eastleigh, he has issued decrees on a range of Indonesia: Institute for Policy Analysis of issues, including al-Shabaab’s leadership style. Conflict. He has also delivered lectures, writings, and sermons justifying al-Shabaab’s war against the [2] Ibid. Somali gover nment (Africanargument, September 25, 2013). 3 VOLUME XI, ISSUE 8, AUGUST 2020 THE JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION Shabaab leadership told supporters that the virus In 2013, the late Shaykh Ahmed Abdi Godane, was Allah’s punishment of non-believers for their who was then the emir of al-Shabaab, engaged evil deeds against Muslims and jihadists (Nation, in a purge of al-Shabaab leaders who were July 25).