Bi-Weekly Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East and Central Africa (Somalia, Mozambique, DR-Congo, Tanzania, Uganda): Tracking Islamic State Terrorists In 1st May- 15th May 2022

INCIDENT REPORT

Mozambique

• 1^st May- a bus ferrying passengers was attacked by militants outside Litingina, 10 km south of Chibau in Nangade. The militants open fired at the bus injuring 3 people.
• 1^st May- 1 person was killed and another injured after the same militants attacked Litingina town.
• 3^rd May- several people were beheaded after insurgents attacked Muhia village located 10 km north of Nangade town, near the Tanzanian border.
• 6^th May- Insurgents attacked Olumbe village, Palma where they threatened the residents to leave and looted food and other supplies.
• 7^th May- insurgents attacked 3 de Fevereiro, just east of Nangade town where they attempted to kidnap a woman and her child.
• 8^th May- insurgents struck the Rovuma village lowlands, capturing several people in fields around Nankuka, and the Nangade district.
• 9^th May- 3 Mozambican soldiers were killed and two others injured and their barracks were torched in Quiterajo in the Macomia district.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

• 06^th May- a Congolese military barrack in Lomi village, Beni was attacked, the soldiers fled and the militants razed it after seizing weapons and other supplies.
• 07^th May- 1 Christian was killed, several others injured, and 3 motorbikes burned by militants who attacked them with machine guns on the road linking Bolongo and Kasindi in the Beni region.
• 8^th May- ISCAP and a Congolese patrol clashed at Kikinji village in Beni where 3 soldiers were killed and the weapons and ammo seized.
• 9^th May- ISCAP ambushed a Christian convoy and razed 9 trucks and a passenger bus, on the Komanda – Mambasa Highway in Ituri.
• 10^th May- local militia allied to the Congolese troops was attacked in Mbonji, Ituri province by ISCAP where at least 13 members were killed and several others injured.
• 10^th May- 3 people were killed and at least 9 vehicles burned following an attack by ISCAP in Kundala Kundala village located between Komanda and Mambasa, Ituri province.
• 12^th May- a joint barracks for the Congolese-Ugandan forces were attacked with automatic weapons, which led to the killing of 1 dead and several wounded. The militants then seized machine guns, RPGs, and ammunition.

SOMALIA

• 02^nd May- 1 Somali police officer was killed and 5 others injured after a hand grenade was hurled at a patrol in the Dar As-Salaam neighborhood in Mogadishu.

NOTABLES

In Mozambique, SAMIM forces have reportedly failed to respond, even when insurgents came within 2 km of their positions, especially in Nangade where cases of kidnappings and beheadings have resurged. This apparent and continued lack of action has further undermined public confidence and trust in the SAMIM operation to protect civilians. The allied forces continue to be accused of not doing enough to fight the militants as they appear to have adopted a deterrence-oriented approach other than a full-blown attack tactic against ISCAP.

Intelligence further reveals that Rwandan troops who are usually responsible for Palma and Mocímboa da Praia districts have recently expanded their area of operation to intervene in Nangade to pursue the insurgents. The arrival was marked by a reported surrender of an unspecified number of militants from different backgrounds. The RDF also reportedly killed over 10 militants who were hiding in a local businessman’s house which has put further strain on the network of the insurgency that has been wreaking havoc in the areas in the last few weeks.

The Islamic State (ISIS-Central) claimed the attack citing that it was conducted by the ‘Wilayah Mozambiq’ making it the first time the ISCAP branch in Mozambique has been referred to as such since it swore its allegiance to ISIS.

President Museveni said Uganda is providing some logistical support to Mozambique to fight the insurgents but noted if need be, UPDF would be deployed. He however said that despite that he would only send the troops to Cabo Delgado upon the resolution of the conflicts already in East Africa, especially in Somalia and DR Congo.

In DRC, human rights organizations have started pressuring the government to end the siege that has installed military rule in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces as the civilians have been experiencing numerous injustices. The siege that has been in place since last year has failed to achieve its purpose and as such partners have urged the government to explore alternative ways to end the senseless killing of civilians by the ever-evolving ISCAP.

A three-day joint UPDF-Congolese CT campaign led to the recapture of Mwenda village which is a strategic, logistical, and habitat for a huge ISCAP encampment. The operation was led by the 1st Battalion of Mountain Division that had been advancing towards Mwenda and reports indicate that at least 35 ISCAP militants were neutralized in the operations. Mwenda has been the home base for the militants since the November bombardments and the entry of the UPDF in Beni and as such the recapture is a significant achievement in the fight against the jihadists. Mwenda had become a haven for the militants and has been used to launch numerous attacks in Beni, North Kivu province, especially in the Rwenzori sector.