ISIS Names New Boko Haram Leader

The Islamic State, popularly called ISIS, has announced a new leader for the deadly Boko Haram.

ISIS named Abu Musab al-Barnawi, as the new Boko Haram leader, replacing Abubakar Shekau.

al-Barnawi was the former spokesman for the Boko Haram.

Mr. al-Barnawi is featured in the latest issue of an ISIS magazine, the BBC has reported.

The magazine makes no reference to Mr. Shekau.

The eccentric Mr. Shekau was last seen in a Boko Haram propaganda video in March 2015, one of many footages released in his years of leading a brutal campaign against the Nigerian state.

In one of the videos, Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIS, which was originally based in Syria and Iraq. ISIS has several offshoots now in other countries including Libya.

Mr. Shekau took over as Boko Haram leader after the group’s founder, Muhammad Yusuf, died in police custody in July 2009.

Boko Haram became more deadly and radicalized under his leadership.