The Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) has announced that they captured one of ISCAP’s leaders identified as Ali alongside 6 other rebels. The seven were captured in Nangade district in Cabo Delgado.
Ali is believed to be 39-years old and born in Tanzania which goes to confirm that there is a significant Tanzanian presence within the ranks of ISCAP. According to intelligence, Ali led rebel groups for the last year in Macomia and Mucojo, in the center of the province, then moved to the insurgent bases of Muera and Mocímboa da Praia, to the north.
Ali has been instrumental in the day-to-day activities of the insurgency including being in charge of planning attacks, recruitment and was actively involved in the radicalization and spread of extremist Jihadism.
The district of Nangade, where he was detained, was the scene of an attack on Sunday in which armed groups killed at least five people and destroyed 200 houses. Nangande district which borders Tanzania has been seeing increased activity from the terror group. Intelligence indicates that the majority of terrorists of Tanzanian descent have been moving north in order to cross over back into Tanzania which will spread the threat of the growing group into the East African nation.
