The Islamic State Province in Central Africa continues to mount its violent campaign in the countries it is active in; Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique. The group has been amercing territory in both countries and conducting attacks in guerrilla-ambush-like style targeting both security forces as well as residents. Last week in Mozambique, ISCAP capture a key port town of Mocimboa da Praia after almost a week of a series of assaults at the security forces meant to exhaust them.
In DR, the period between 13th August has recorded several attacks by the ISCAP branch locally identified as ADF in the Beni Territory with at least 16 people killed by the militants between then and the 18th of this month. Intelligence out of the Beni region indicates that the group conducted at least four attacks with three targeting civilians and the fourth an ambush against Congolese troops active in the region. Residents in the territories have fled the areas for the fear of being attack by the militants who have been coming from the forest and attacking the residents indiscriminately with both crude weapons and guns. While DRC has deployed troops that are being backed up by UN peacekeepers that have been fighting the elusive and seemingly revamped group. However, the CT operations have been yielding results as the Congolese troops have been recording inflicted losses on ADF with the dismantling of their camps and the seizure of weapons and ammunition. The group has also upped its kidnappings and looting for food and medical supplies a clear indicator that the group has suffered fatalities and the wounded require medical attention and care hence the kidnappings.
For the aforementioned period, there hasn’t been significant activity by the other ISIS branches in Somalia and Mozambique.
ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique, DRC, and Somalia (August 13th – 18th August)
DRC
- 13th August- 4 people were killed in the afternoon attack in the village of Kitevya near Oicha- the capital of Beni. The four were shot in an attack that triggered additional deployment of Congolese troops in the area located just 10km from Oicha.
- 14th August- 4 people were killed and several others were kidnapped in Mbau-Kamayu agricultural axis in Beni territory. The four were killed with crude weapons
- 15th August– ADF militants ambushed Congolese troops in Kpolowu in an altercation that left two militants dead and two soldiers seriously wounded.
- 16th August- 8 people were killed, 1 seriously injured and 2 others kidnapped in Mwenda village in the Rwenzori sector in Beni. The militants used machetes to execute the attack. Additionally, they looted food and medical supplies in local pharmacies.
