Mid-Week Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East and Central Africa (Somalia, Mozambique, DR-Congo)

Islamic State Terrorists in Period of 25th June – 30th June 2020

The two provinces of the Islamic State active in the East and Central African region have shown a significant drop in attacks in the period between 25^th and 30^th June. The drop is evidenced by sole attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Somalia during the herein mentioned period. While June has recorded numerous attacks especially by Islamic State Central Africa (ISCA), Islamic State Somalia (ISS) has also recorded sparse attacks in the country.

The lull in attacks by the groups is not to be mistaken with defeat especially in Mozambique where the group was able to mount a siege that lasts at least twenty-four hours with BDA showing huge losses of property and life on both sides. In DRC ISCA continues its violent campaign against security forces with the most recent attack on the Congolese soldiers. In Somalia, ISS exploited the use of landmines targeting the police that is a change in pace in their attacks that are mainly characterized by assassinations especially in the Mogadishu and its environs.

ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique and DRC (25th June – 30^th June)

Mozambique

• 27^th June- ISCA militants took siege of Mocimboa Da Praia in an initial attack that forced the military and other security personnel out of the town. At least 10 soldiers and at least 12 militants were killed in the occupation that lasted at least twenty-four hours. Also, the insurgents kidnapped 8 girls, a businessman, and a religious leader from the town.

DRC

• 28^th June- ISCAP terrorists attacked Congolese soldiers in Owisha in the Beni region killing 3 soldiers and seizing weapons and ammunition.

SOMALIA

• 26^th June- Abnaa Ul Calipha militants attack a police vehicle ferrying the officers in the Danynile district of Mogadishu. the vehicle hit a landmine planted by ISS killing 7 officers.

Observations

In Mozambique, the attacks stalled last week as there was a rapid military response with the soldiers and police scouring the areas for ISCA and their sympathizers. The militants drove out the soldiers out of MDP after which DAG choppers were seen to patrol and attack the militants a move that shows better preparedness in the counterinsurgency measures by the Mozambican military and paramilitary allies. As was the case in the previous week the terrorists are continually kidnapping young school girls as a part of battle spoils. The kidnapping of girls by ISCAP in Mozambique is an indicator of a growing number of recruits that need caregiving either wounded in battles or fighters needing wives and caretakers in the encampments.

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. 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 DRC, the attacks were previously in a guerrilla-style and swift a trend that is shifting to evidence confidence and machismo of the group. Beni region offers the group a geographical advantage because the group has lived in the forests for many years giving them an edge against the government soldiers and other peacekeepers.