Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations
Boko Haram
Designation Status (as of October 6, 2026)
| US State Dept FTO | Listed Boko Haram since November 14, 2013 |
|---|---|
| US Treasury OFAC SDN (SDGT) | Listed BOKO HARAM |
| UK Proscribed | Listed Boko Haram (Jama’atu Ahli Sunna Lidda Awati Wal Jihad) (BH) since July 2013 |
| EU Terrorist Lists | Listed Boko Haram since May 22, 2014 |
| Canada Listed Entities | Listed Boko Haram since December 24, 2013 |
| Australia Listed | Listed Boko Haram since June 26, 2014 |
Profile written 2015 The profile below is the original Jihad Intel text and has not been updated. Designation status above is current.
Designated as terrorist by: Australia, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States
Base of operations: Nigeria
Background: National Counterterrorism Center
Background: Council on Foreign Relations
Jama'atu Ahl as-Sunnah li-Da'awati wal-Jihad ("Group of the Sunni People for the Calling and Jihad" in Arabic), better known as Boko Haram ("Western Education Is Forbidden" in the Hausa language), is an Islamic terrorist group that has killed thousands in its attempt to drive Western influence from Nigeria, bring down that country's government, and implement Shari'a. The targets of its terror campaign, which has featured an extraordinarily high tempo of attacks since 2011, have included schools, security forces, government facilities, UN personnel, Christians, rival Muslims, and random civilians. Boko Haram's kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls in April 2014 and the pledges of its leader, Abubakar Shekau, to "sell them in the market, by Allah," brought the group worldwide media attention. Shekau previously praised al-Qaeda and threatened the U.S. Boko Haram is believed to have operational links with al-Qaeda affiliates.
In March 2015, the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State [IS], in keeping with expectations as its media output showed increasing signs of leaning towards IS. It has become IS' "West Africa" province. Abubakar Shekau has since been replaced by Abu Mus'ab al-Bernawi as leader of the West Africa province, with evidence suggesting a split in the ranks.
