The United States of America (US), through its Office of Foreign Assets Control at the Department of the Treasury (OFAC), has identified and sanctioned four individuals allegedly funding the armed incursions of Islamist groups in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A statement from OFAC, quoted by voaportugues, gives the names of the suspects based in South Africa and clarifies what their role was.

"Farhad Hoomer, helped organize and start the operations of an Islamic State cell in Durban; Siraaj Miller, leads a group of supporters of the terrorist group in Cape Town; Abdella Hussein Abadigga, recruited young people; and Peter Charles Mbaga, who facilitated fund transfers," the portal wrote in an article published on Tuesday (01).

The citizens listed above by the U.S. as being members of the Islamic State provided "transfer support and or served as leaders of Islamic State cells" in South Africa, from where financial support for the terrorist group's activities, particularly in Mozambique, flowed.

"Islamic State members and associates in South Africa play an increasingly central role in facilitating the transfer of funds from the top of the Islamic State hierarchy to its affiliates across Africa," OFAC says.

The document cited by our source says that the Islamic State has tried to expand its presence on the continent through large-scale operations in areas where the government cannot penetrate.

The US assures that it is working with African partners "to dismantle the Islamic State's financial support networks in Africa."

As a result of the reprimand, all assets and interests in property of the sanctions-targeted members, and any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, at 50% or more by them, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of Americans, are now blocked and , with very few exceptions, transactions of Americans or property in the United States with such persons are prohibited.