The ISIS affiliates in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last weeks of August have been conducting numerous attacks that have been exhibiting the capabilities of the growing terror groups. In Mozambique, the group continues to hold its position on the port city of Mocimboa da Praia and has been attacking the military in the vicinity of the town. In the past five days, the group has attacked and ambushed the military which is preparing to stage a massive CT operation from Mueda. The troops traveling from Pemba have been attacked and intelligence indicates that the group has been receiving reinforcements as evidenced by two boats intercepted by defense forces with at least 60 suspected recruits traveling to MDP.
In DRC the past fortnight the group has stepped up its attacks especially in the vicinity of Oicha and its environs that has led to the deaths of innocent civilians, troops as well as military wives. In the past few days, ISCAP has conducted uncoordinated attacks in the villages along a road that has long served as a blind spot that has been exploited to attack the civilian and military population in Beni. The road was rehabilitated to facilitate the prompt delivery of military personnel and equipment especially in attacks by the ADF. The past week evidences that the threat posed by ISCAP in DRC is much greater than previously anticipated and that the relentless nature of the group makes them very dangerous and a swift CT strategy ought to be mounted to ensure that the previous military gains against them and the relationship between troops and civilians aren’t reversed.
ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique and DRC (28th August- 1st September 2020)
Mozambique
- 27th August- ISCAP engaged a military convoy traveling to Mueda at Awasse. No casualties were reported.
- 28th August– ISCAP attacked and drove out civilians from MDP and Awasse environs as the group prepared to engage defense and security forces.
- 30th August– clashes between troops and ISCAP terrorists at Miangalewa reported several casualties as the troops traveled from Pemba to Mueda where they are expected to mount an offensive attack to recapture MDP from the insurgents.
Democratic Republic of Congo
- 28th August- 5 bodies recovered following an ISCAP attack near Mbau town with four of the victims being women.
- 28th August- 7 people killed by ADF insurgents in Palmba village in Beni-Mbau sector among the killed were two military wives
- 28th August- clashes between the ISCAP terrorists and Congolese troops along Mbau-Kamango road led to the deaths of several militants, several soldiers seriously injured, and the loss of military jeep to the terrorists.
- 29th August- 1 killed in the ISCAP attack in Kingmuviri village in Beni-Mbau Sector. The victim was shot dead.
- 30th August- 5 civilians, 9 soldiers killed by ADF in an attack along Mbau-Kamango road. At least 10 militants were also killed in the altercation.
- 31st August- 1 farmer was killed by ADF terrorists in Maleki village in Beni-Mbau Sector about 9km west of Oicha. The victim was beheaded.
Strategic Intelligence (S.I) continues to track militant activities in East and Central Africa especially in Somalia, Mozambique, and DRC. The statistics indicate that while the attacks seem to have subsided in size and occurrence in all the Mozambique the opposite has occurred in DRC. While the attacks appear to be low-scale, they still hold significance to the group’s popularity and presence in DRC in eliciting fear and panic while in Mozambique fortifying the group’s hold of the port city of Mocimboa da Praia.
