What does Boko Haram's pledge to Islamic State really mean?

(The Christian Science Monitor) The most immediate payoff from Boko Haram’s new pledge of allegiance to the self-described Islamic State is likely a propaganda boost: Boko Haram gets an expanded social media presence with the help of skilled IS propagandists, while IS gains the support of its largest affiliate yet.

But while the two militant Islamist groups have much in common —from terror tactics to the vision of establishing an Islamic caliphate—their stark differences could diminish the chances of a cohesive partnership.

“It seems at the moment that this is a statement that is akin to saying, ‘We are on the same page,’” Ryan Cummings, chief Africa analyst for Britain-based Red24, told The New York Times. “But the biggest issue with Boko Haram is that it’s not a homogeneous group and it behaves as different factions. So it’s too early to tell for sure if Boko Haram will fall directly under ISIS command, and to what extent they will act as an ISIS proxy.”