Mid-Week Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East and Central Africa (Somalia, Mozambique, DR-Congo): Tracking Islamic State Terrorists in Period of 5th- 10th June 2020

Islamic State’s two provinces in Somalia and Central Africa have continually conducted attacks against civilian and security targets. The attacks still follow the same MO that each group has carved out in the three countries; Somalia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While attacks in Somalia majorly target police and military in Mozambique and DRC, they have been amercing civilian casualties violently beheaded or shot.

In the period between 5^th and 10^th June, the groups have recorded a cumulative six attacks in all their quarters with the majority of the attacks being in Mozambique which has become a theatre for bloody attacks. In Mozambique, ISCAP has downshifted from the large-scale attacks and temporary occupation of towns to more scattered attacks in various locations of the Restive Cabo Delgado province.

In DRC, ADF insurgents continue to launch attacks on the Christian population as well as the military that they have dubbed interventionists. The insurgents attack villages and killing residents with knives and guns and often engage the troops deployed in the North Kivu Province to curb the growing threat of the ISIS-affiliated militants.

Despite Somalia’s province being considered as the de facto overseer of the ISCAP, the group has kept a low-profile and only conducting small isolated attacks either. The attacks can be considered as the group’s flex to show that they have been building capabilities in the various regions of Somalia. This is observable with attacks in Puntland, Afgoye in Lower Shabelle, and Mogadishu.

ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique and DRC (5th June – 10^th June)

Mozambique

• 5^th June- ISCAP insurgents attacked Imbada in Meluco District beheaded three civilians and looted for supplies after which they left.
• 5^th June- the terrorists beheaded one person and indiscriminately fired at refugees at ADPP Junction in Quissanga District who were returning to Macomia.
• 5^th June- two fishermen were killed in Ulo who were getting to their boat by ISCAP terrorists.
• 5^th June- militants kidnapped girls drawing water from a well in Nabubussi neighborhood of Mocimboa da Praia

Somalia

• 8^th June- Abnaa Ul Calipha terrorists attacks and wounded three police officers who were on foot patrol in Bakara Market in Mogadishu

DRC

• 5^th June- in two separate attacks in Loselose, Beni region ADF militants attacked and killed 7 Christians and 6 Congolese soldiers.

Insights

Strategic Intelligence (S.I) continues to track militant activities in East and Central Africa especially in Somalia, Mozambique, and DRC.

The weekly statistics indicate that while the attacks seem to have subsided in size and occurrence in all the countries, the low-scale attacks still hold significance to the group’s popularity and presence. Mozambique which has been recorded the highest number of attacks in the past weeks paints a picture that the military is taking the threat more seriously and with the help of Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) from South Africa limiting the scope of ISCAP’s attacks. Rapid government response and stringent COIN measures and strategies have impacted the magnitude of attacks by the militants as evidenced by the herein mentioned casualty report. In Somalia and DRC local troops and peacekeepers have been tightening the noose on the operations of the terror groups which has resulted in a clear downshift of attacks and casualties as compared to the same period last week.