On Saturday, March 7th, the Nigeria-based Islamist group Boko Haram released an audio message on social media. The audio message was of the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau and had English subtitles. In the message, Shekau announced Boko Haram’s allegiance to ISIS and the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghadi. Shekau also called on Muslims everywhere to swear their own loyalty to ISIS.

Boko Haram, whose name translates to “Western education is forbidden”, was founded in 2002. The group has launched many military operations throughout northeastern Nigeria and neighboring states, such as Cameroon and Chad, in an effort to create an Islamist state and to institute their extreme version of Sharia law. In their wake, Boko Haram has left thousands dead and has abducted hundreds.

Boko Haram’s pledge to ISIS comes after a period of time during which Boko Haram has been copying much of what ISIS is doing. The group followed the lead of ISIS in declaring an Islamic caliphate in their territory in northeast Nigeria. Also, through their new social media, the Islamist organization also has begun publishing videos of beheadings similar to those of ISIS.

However, despite having similar motivations and practices, US intelligence officials are questioning whether or not the two groups will get along together. Boko Haram is well entrenched with the Islamic practices in their region of Africa. Also, Boko Haram has many black members and many of ISIS’s Arab members have racist attitudes toward blacks. Those tendencies could potentially lead to clashing between the groups.

The nation of Nigeria postponed their elections so as to have more time to improve the security in the northeast. Forces form Niger and Chad have been working with forces from Nigeria to launch a ground and air offensive against Boko Haram. On Friday, one day before the pledge, the African Union permitted the creation of a regional force of more than eight thousand troops in an effort to combat the group. Following the pledge Saturday, the allied forces orchestrated an attack against the African Islamist group on Sunday morning. The allied forces have claimed some recent success in their battles against Boko Haram, and Nigerian officials believe the pledge to ISIS was a sign of weakness.