Islamic State threat is eminent in East and Central Africa as the militant group claim another attack in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Islamic State that is fast establishing pockets in regions of Somalia has claimed attacks in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the past recent months.
Following recent attack claims from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Islamic State has followed up by publishing several photos from the DRC’s North Kivu region.
The terrorist group claimed another assault on Congolese troops near Kalyanjoki village of Congo and subsequently released three photos showing the “spoils” captured from the attack.
jihadist group released photos of several Kalashnikovs and at least one RPG is shown to have been captured, while another photo shows personal belongings of the Congolese troops.
The released photos by the Islamic State’s central media office, were labeled under the signature “Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiyah,” or “Central African Province,” a title used in the previous attacks claimed in the DRC.
In April 2019, the Islamic State claimed two other attacks in the DRC’s North Kivu region. However, the photos provide more evidence for a clear link between the Islamic State and militants in the DRC.
These militants believed to be aligned to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group that has fought both the DRC and Ugandan governments for over two decades. However, researchers from the Congo Research Group have found that the ADF has made several advances to the Islamic State in recent years and now has become an eminent threat in the region.
The advances include ADF rebranding itself as “Madinat al Tawhid wal Muwahedeen,” or the City of Monotheism and Monotheists (MTM), and even creating new images further aligned to jihadist organizations.
Islamic State materials has also been found within the ADF/MTM folds, including a book published by the Islamic State’s Maktabah al Himma.
