Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State in an audio message shared via Twitter on March 7.

The terrorist group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, said: “We announce our allegiance to the caliph of the Muslims [Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi] … and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity, in hardship and ease, and to endure being discriminated against, and not to dispute about rule with those in power, except in case of evident infidelity regarding that which there is a proof from Allah.”

When the Islamic State terrorist organization declared itself a caliphate last June, it demanded that all Muslims, jihadists or otherwise, submit to the Islamic State and “Caliph” Baghdadi. Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, Charles Lister, said that that declaration was “likely the most significant development in international jihadism since 9/11.”

The Islamic State has seized large swaths of territory, spoiled American-supplied weapons from defeated Iraqi troops, and committed savage atrocities. On a smaller scale, Boko Haram has made similar exploits in Nigeria.

Five days after Boko Haram pledged itself to Baghdadi, Mohammed al-Adnani spoke on behalf of the Islamic State and said in an audio message shared via Twitter: “We announce to you to the good news of the expansion of the caliphate to West Africa because the caliph … has accepted the allegiance of our brothers of the Sunni group for preaching and the jihad.” He also urged Muslims to join Boko Haram.

This Nigerian partnership came just after an African Islamic State affiliate beheaded 21 Coptic Christians in Libya, in solidarity with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the Washington-based Atlantic Council, said, “Rather than trying to expand [like al Qaeda] from the center, the Islamic State is mushrooming all over the place.”

As the Islamic State expands, it is spreading its influence and international credibility. That clout might inspire other African-based jihadist groups like Ansaru, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (aqim) and al-Shabaab to join its ranks. Reciprocally, the Islamist groups, like Boko Haram, which align with the Islamic State will gain legitimacy and prestige that will help them with fundraising and recruiting personnel.

As nbc News reported, the Islamic State’s global influence has, through its affiliates, already spread to Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Algeria and, now, Nigeria. The Islamic State’s expansion presents problems for its radical Islamic competitors as well as those prophesied to eradicate all of radical Islam. You can read about these geopolitical players in our article “The World’s Newest Most Radical ‘State’” and in our free e-book Germany’s Secret Strategy to Destroy Iran.