The United States of America (USA) has sanctioned four members of a cell of the Islamic State terrorist group operating in South Africa, accusing them of providing technical, financial or material support.

The US Treasury Department explained in a statement that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also sanctioned eight companies owned, controlled or managed by the four individuals.

The terrorist cell in question is led by Farhad Hoomer, who had already been sanctioned in March.

In this case, the veto is directed against brothers Nufael Akbar and Yunus Mohamad Akbar, prominent members of the organization in the South African city of Durban.

The other two are Mohamad Akbar and Umar Akbar, who were arrested in 2018 by South African authorities, along with Hoomer, for their involvement in a conspiracy to install incendiary devices near a mosque and commercial buildings.

The Treasury Department, quoted by Lusa, indicated that the Islamic State group continues to expand its terrorist network across the continent, as noted in a United Nations Security Council report last July, which underlined the emerging importance of South Africa for transfers of funds from the terrorist group's leadership to its partners in Africa.

In May, the Islamic State officially announced the creation of a new "province" (or 'wilaya') in Mozambique, a country bordering South Africa, where a group linked to the organization has been active since 2017.

The violence is particularly concentrated in northern Mozambique, which contains large natural gas deposits, and has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,500 people, including more than 1,500 civilians, as well as the displacement of 800,000 Mozambicans.

Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson noted that the four sanctioned individuals played key roles in fostering terrorism and other criminal activity in the region.

As a result of the sanctions, property and assets in the US or under US control of the affected individuals and entities are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Any entity in which they hold a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 50% is also blocked.