Africa blog: State strengthens ties with Boko Haram

Africa blog: Islamic State strengthens ties with Boko Haram
The Islamic State (IS) has released a new video, eulogising Nigeria's Boko Haram, in the latest sign of closer ties between the two militant groups.
Images posted on IS-linked social media accounts refer to Boko Haram as the Islamic State's West Africa Province (Iswap) - a catchy name aimed at showing that it has expanded beyond the Middle East and North Africa.
IS accepted a pledge of allegiance from Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in March, giving the group its first foothold in sub-Saharan Africa in its efforts to create a global caliphate.
The latest images glorify Boko Haram fighters, describing those killed in battle as martyrs.
Unlike most previous pictures of people Boko Haram claims as its members, the young men are not masked and their faces are clearly visible.
Boko Haram has previously referred to itself as Iswap in its increasingly sophisticated propaganda material.
But it is unclear whether Mr Shekau approves of the name-change, in an organisation with a diffused leadership structure.
He still calls Boko Haram by its official name Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad".
Boko Haram is a nickname, given to it by Nigerians when it was formed in 2002. In the regional Hausa language, Boko Haram means Western education is forbidden. It reflected what was then the main focus of the group.