Islamic State’s supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Photo: VNA

Sameh Eid, an expert in Jihadist affairs in Egypt, said Africa is the biggest battlefield that the group seeks to enter in order to have access to Egypt. Meanwhile, Najeh Ibrahim, former leader with Jamaa al-Islamiyah, said Baghdadi is likely to be in locations such as the Sahara desert, northern Chad or the borders between Algeria and Niger. He said those areas are considered safe shelters due to security failures in addition to being mountainous areas, where he can hide for long periods. Members from these countries, which suffer poverty and conflicts, can be recruited. Moreover, Nasser al-Hawari, a Libyan expert, said the group seeks inclusion into the biggest number of terrorist cells in Libya, Chad, Niger and Sudan.