Abdulkadir Mumin, who once lived in Hjällbo, Gothenburg during the 1990s and early 2000s, is now reported to be the operative leader of the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), according to TT.
During his time in Sweden, Mumin is said to have been radicalized while preaching at the Bellevue Mosque, where he promoted extremist ideologies and attracted others to join him in embracing militant beliefs.
Interestingly, Mumin isn’t the first Somali extremist with Swedish ties. Fuad Khalaf, a senior financier for the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab, also spent time in Sweden and became radicalized there. Khalaf now has a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head.
Magnus Ranstorp, a political science associate professor, explained to TT that while Mumin isn’t formally recognized as the IS “caliph,” he operates as a central figure coordinating resources and volunteers across IS affiliates in Syria, Africa, and Afghanistan. In essence, Mumin acts as the connective thread between the organization’s provinces.
After relocating to the UK in 2003, Mumin gained attention for his extremist rhetoric and ties to figures like Mohammed Emwazi, infamously known as “Jihadi John.” Later, Mumin returned to Somalia, where he survived assassination attempts and rose through the ranks of IS.
Experts at King’s College in London suggest Mumin now functions as IS’s de facto leader, although this role hasn’t been officially declared.
Mumin adheres to Salafist-jihadist ideology, a violent interpretation of Islam that seeks to impose Sharia law globally and establish a caliphate. His transformation from a Gothenburg resident to a key IS figure underscores the reach and impact of global radicalization networks.
