Three Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) terrorists of Tanzanian descent were arrested in the Mwalika valley in the chiefdom of Bashu, in the Beni territory of Nord Kivu province. The three were arrested by a Congolese patrol unit and are being interrogated.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the jihadists were recruited by a Congolese living in Butembo to work in a gold mine in the Beni region but later found themselves being recruited as fighters. While there have been reports that fighters have been swindled and coerced into joining the terror organization the credibility of the three has yet to be verified.
While this is the first time Tanzanians have been arrested for being members of ISCAP in DRC, the intertwined operations between both arms; one in Mozambique and DRC are unequivocal. As regional traction and necessity to find a regional solution to defeat ISCAP, the links and cooperation between jihadists both in Mozambique and DRC is a recurring theme. Moreover, it is a fact that the organization in Mozambique has a substantial Tanzanian presence, and as such it is not unfathomable for Tanzanians to be receiving training and fighting in Beni and Ituri.
