ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique and DRC (15th September- 24th September 2021)
Mozambique
- 18th Sept- five decapitated bodies were discovered at Namalucu, Quissanga district after they were attacked by ISCAP militants fleeing Macomia
- 19th Sept- at least 17 people were killed in three villages; Bilibiza, Nakuta, and Tapara in the Quissanga region near Pemba by ISCAP militants.
- 23rd Sept- At least a dozen insurgents have been terrorizing, burning houses, and decapitating civilians in Lindi village, near the Montepuez River in Quissanga.
Somalia
- 15th Sept- A police checkpoint was damaged after a hand grenade was hauled at it my ISS militants at the X-Control-Balad intersection in Mogadishu.
DRC
- 15th Sept- 3 people killed, a child kidnapped and houses razed to the ground in attack in the village of Mambaka, in the chiefdom of Walese Vonkutu, Irumu territory, in Ituri.
- 16th Sept- At least 5 civilians were killed in an ISCAP attack in the village of Muthendero, located in Isale Groupement, south of the territory of Beni.
- 23rd Sept- 6 people killed, 10 kidnapped by ISCAP in an attack in Kamaghando and Kyarutavira in the chiefdom of Bashu, Beni.
- 23rd Sept- nine people kidnapped by ISCAP’s new incursion on Mount Hoyo, in the Bandavilemba group, Walese Vonkutu, in the south of the territory of Irumu, Ituri.
- 24th Sept- at least 4 people were stabbed to death, 33 houses burned to the ground in the night attacks by ISCAP militants in Komanda, Irumu territory in Ituri province.
Tanzania
- 21st Sept- ISCAP militants attacked the Mahurunga area located north of Palma on the Tanzanian side.
- 22nd Sept- A reported follow-up attack in the same area near Mahurunga, with civilians, killed conducted by ISCAP likely migrating into Tanzania from Mozambique.
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
In DRC a Middle Eastern National was arrested for ties to ISCAP and was reportedly training the fighters in drone use in Makisabo, Near Beni. If true this is a development that would move the war onto a new plane as drones would give the militants an edge that would make them remain ahead of the security actors, evade capture, and conduct attacks with more precision due to adequate reconnaissance. In the past, intelligence has indicated that ISCAP has at least two drones, and thus if confirmed, this would be the first time there will be clear evidence that ISIS-central is offering technical support to its Congo affiliate.
ISCAP in Mozambique, as previously projected, has been retreating and this week was characterized by an attack by the militants near Mahurunga on the Tanzanian side located north of Palma despite the increased military presence in the region. The attacks do not come as a surprise seeing as intelligence indicated that the militants retreating to hide or create camps in Tanzania was inevitable.
At least fifteen members of ISCAP deserted their ranks and surrendered to the Mozambican Forces (FDS) in Macomia district. Preliminary intelligence indicates that the deserters were from one of the terrorist bases in the Quiterajo administrative post in Macomia district which has seen increased foreign intervention. The deserters had said that it was the group’s main base, and where the leaders of the movement were hidden. The deserters also said that the scene among the ranks of the insurgents was chaotic, with many members of the group deserting. The desertions ought to be handled carefully as they could be battle tactics seeing as despite the reported wins by SAMIM and Rwandan troops none of the leaders have been arrested and as such the intelligence gathered ought to be filtered to ensure that the militants do not derail the CT efforts.
In Mozambique, the SAMIM joint forces captured a major stronghold held by ISCAP located in the south of Messalo River in Cabo Delgado which was dubbed Sheikh Ibrahim Base and was used for training of the insurgents. According to the statement released, several women were rescued, weapons were recovered as well a huge library of military training books and other religious texts as well as communication devices and video content that is believed to be part of syllabus and indoctrination material.
