Islamic State provinces in East and Central Africa appear to be exhibiting a lull in its activities with a fewer number of attacks in the first week of September. The groups continue to show presence despite there being large scale attacks as in previous months and can be directly or indirectly credited to stepped up CT operations in the respective localities.
In Mozambique, the group continues to seek to capture districts in the Cabo Delgado but their efforts continue to be met with significant resistance from the troops deployed in the localities. For instance, Mozambican defense and security forces blocked the advance of ISCAP terrorists into Muidumbe district killing several of them as well as arrested a man described as a ringleader of the terrorists in the district and recovered a huge cache of weapons. Civilians live in fear as the exact number of jihadists and or they gam plan and capture of districts are still elusive and they continue to behead and violently kill innocents. The trend is worrying even though the military appears to be gearing to conduct a massive operation to recapture MDP from the jihadists and has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
In DRC, unlike elsewhere, ISCAP has continued a violent campaign especially against farmers in their fields that picked pace towards the end of August. The group continues to be elusive and taking bolder attacks with a slight change in MO that includes daytime attacks. According to the security agencies, the ADF which has been based in Congo for more than two decades has forged strong links with local political and economic figures and has tapped into networks trafficking mainly timber, taking advantage of corruption within the Congolese security and the local administration.
On the other hand, the Islamic State Somalia has conspicuously remained silent with no activities both at their headquarters in Puntland as well as in the capital where they recently focused their attacks. While the group appears to have hibernated, it is crucial to note that the group was previously promoted as oversight over ISCAP in Mozambique and DRC by ISIS-Central.
ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique and DRC (1st September – 08th September)
DRC
- 02nd September- 2 farmers were killed and two others were injured in Kanana and Chochora villages in the Rwenzori sector. The two were shot dead in their fields.
- 03rd September- 3 ISCAP terrorists were killed and several others were injured after deadly clashes between the terror organization and Congolese troops towards the village of Kinziki-Matiba. The soldiers recovered two AK47 guns.
- 04th September- ISCAP was run out by the military as they attempted an attack on farmers in their fields in near Kakuka and Mbumbuli villages.
- 05th September- 2 people were killed in the ISCAP attack in the Banande-Kainama group In the Beni-Mbau sector.
- 05th September- 2 people were killed, cattle stolen and several others kidnapped by ISCAP in a night attack in Kisuwi village in Kainama.
