Periodic Table

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups – November 2023

Navanti presents the November 2023 update of the Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups. It’s important to highlight that certain groups, namely Harakat Sawa’d Misr (HASM), AOI Army of Islam, Ansar Al Shar’ia in Damah (AAS), Ansar Al Shari’a in Benghazi (AAS), Ansar Al Shari’a in Tunisia (AAS), ISIS Bangladesh, and CPA Revolution Armed Force of Colombia People’s Army, have been moved to the inactive category. This decision was made due to the inability in capturing open-source intelligence (OSINT) operations, a lack of documented claimed attacks, or instances where the groups themselves announced their dissolution. Notwithstanding, persistent global threats from active terrorist entities such as ISIS and al-Qa’ida continue, with large-scale attacks occurring across various regions. The Sahel region in Africa continue to see a surge in violent extremist organizations (VEOs), resulting in an increase in attacks, while Western states in Europe and North America have experienced a decline in terrorist activity since October 2022. Additionally, commendable milestones have been achieved in countering ISIS branches, particularly in Iraq and northeastern Syria, under a revamped counterterrorism policy led by the United States and its global partners.

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups – October 2022

The most significant change since March 2021 was an uptick in violence across the Sahel region of Africa as violent extremist organizations (VEOs) rapidly grew in size and increased attacks. In contrast, western states in Europe and North America experienced reduced terrorist activity during the same period. Overall, a majority of terrorist attacks recorded globally were carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa. The African branches of the Islamic State in West Africa, the DRC, and Mozambique were particularly active, increasing the frequency of attacks perpetrated by the three affiliates as their ranks swelled with new recruits. The year has also seen Al-Qa’ida’s regional branch rebrand itself as JNIM, which has expanded its activities further south into West African coastal countries, while also competing with and fighting against IS in the area. In South Asia, Afghanistan witnessed heightened levels of VEO activity as well as the deadliest attack of the year when Islamic State affiliate ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) targeted the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul with a suicide bombing that killed 170 Afghanis and 13 US military personnel.

Changes to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) list included the December 2021 addition of the Segunda Marquetalia, a group of former Colombian guerillas who refused disarmament. The US Department of State also announced the reclassification of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) following the May 2022 removal of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), representing the US government’s recognition of the group’s continued activity in Colombia despite progress towards disarmament since the 2016 peace agreement.

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups – March 2021

The most significant change between 2019 and 2020 was the proliferation of violent extremist organizations (VEO) in Africa. Harakat Sawa’d Misr – also known as HASM – in Egypt, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC), and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – Mozambique (ISIS-Mozambique) were added to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. Additionally, The Middle East and South Asia experienced the most change in force size and number of attacks – most significantly, AQAP reduced the pace of their attacks on civilian and government targets.

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups-August 2019

All previous references on the table to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have been updated to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as the latter is now more conventional in State Department documentation. ISIS was added to the FTO list in 2004 and since then, the group’s influence has spread to many countries across the regions. Only one group (ANO) was removed from the previous table and eight were added to the list between 2017 and 2019 (Africa: ISIS-WA, ISIS-GS, & JNIM; Middle East: AAB*Bahrain & IRGC; South Asia: HM, ISIS-B, & ISIS-P). Two groups were changed to an inactive status (ETA – Europe and LTTE – South Asia). Notably, Hamas experienced growth in its membership, and increased attacks in the Gaza Strip between 2017 and 2018.

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups-January 2018

The most significant change between 2014 and 2017 was the proliferation of the Islamic State (ISIL) and its affiliates in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, adding five of the thirteen new groups over the reporting period. The Middle East and South Asia also experienced the most change in force size and number of attacks, with AQAP, AUM, DHKP, H, Hi, IG, JAT, and KACH increasing. While eight groups in total reduced the pace of their attacks on civilian and government targets, eight others maintained the level of activity by increasing their attacks: AAD, AQAP, ETA, Hi, IM, JeM, LJ, and TTP.

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups-September 2014

The design was stretched in 2014 as the total number of groups jumped to 61 designated FTOs. This is a 30% increase over the 2010 data set, with the Middle East growing to 23 and South Asia growing to 14 entities.

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups-October 2012

The 2012 update showed the total number of designated FTOs grow to 51 worldwide, with the Middle East growing to 19 organizations.

Navanti Periodic Table of Terrorist Groups-October 2010

The original Periodic Table. This was our first attempt at organizing the FTO list and assigning values for group size and number of attacks. 47 groups in all, with 2 being considered Global.