On May 16, 2018, the US Department of State sanctioned ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and its leader Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi. According to the designation statement, “ISIS-GS emerged when Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi and his followers split” from Al-Murabitoun.  

The statement noted that “Al-Sahrawi first pledged allegiance to ISIS in May 2015, and in October 2016, ISIS acknowledged it received a pledge of allegiance from the group under al-Sahrawi.”