Monthly Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East and Central Africa (Somalia, Mozambique, and DR-Congo): Tracking Islamic State Terrorists for the Month of December 2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In December 2025, the security environment across Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Mozambique remained highly volatile, driven by sustained Islamic State–linked insurgent activity and intensified counterterrorism operations by national, regional, and international forces. Across all three theatres, Islamic State affiliates demonstrated continued intent and capability to conduct lethal attacks against security forces and civilians, despite mounting military pressure.

In eastern DRC, Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) maintained a high tempo of violence in North Kivu and Ituri, targeting civilians, Congolese forces, and Ugandan troops operating under Operation Shujaa. Beheadings, IED attacks, and coordinated assaults underscored ISCAP’s resilience and ability to exploit remote terrain and civilian vulnerabilities. While diplomatic and operational efforts, including the extension of MONUSCO’s mandate and limited infrastructure reopening, signaled incremental progress, persistent insecurity and civilian harm highlighted the fragility of stabilization gains.

In Somalia, December marked a significant escalation in U.S.-led air operations against Islamic State Somalia, particularly in Puntland’s mountainous regions. Sustained airstrikes and joint ground operations degraded the group’s fixed infrastructure, leadership, and logistics, forcing a shift toward smaller, mobile units. Although IS-Somalia’s operational capacity was substantially reduced, intelligence assessments indicated the group retained the ability to survive as a low-level but persistent threat, particularly in hard-to-access terrain.

In northern Mozambique, Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) continued to mount ambushes, IED attacks, and civilian-targeted violence across Cabo Delgado, despite intensified operations by Mozambican forces and the Rwanda Defence Force. ISM demonstrated operational adaptability through mobile attacks, exploitation of coastal and border areas, and sustained cross-border links with Tanzania. Ongoing civilian harm and militant movements underscored the enduring regional dimension of the insurgency and the limits of current military pressure.

MOZAMBIQUE

• 24^th Dec- Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) militants ambushed Rwandan army forces in Cogolo, Macomia District, Cabo Delgado Province.
• 23^rd Dec- ISM militants clashed with Mozambican Naval troops near Quiterajo area in Cabo Delgado.
• 22^nd Dec- At least one person was beheaded by ISM militants in Magaia area in Muidumbe district.
• 22^nd Dec- one Christian was beheaded by ISM rebels in Diaca village of MDP district.
• 21^st Dec- ISM militants clashed with Rwandan Naval patrol near the Nabaje area in Mocimboa da Praia (MDP) District.
• 12^th Dec- ISM militants captured and killed a Christian militiaman in Nambedo, Nangade District.
• 10^TH Dec- ISM militants clashed with local militias in Nambedo area of Nangade district where it left several people injured.
• 06^th Dec- ISM militants ambushed Mozambican and Rwandan forces in Xitaxi area in Muidumbe district.
• 05^th Dec- ISM detonated an IED, damaging the lead vehicle in a commercial convoy along the N380 between Chitunda and Xitaxi villages, Muidumbe.
• 05^th Dec- ISM militants ambushed Mozambican and Rwandan forces with an IED/armed assault double attack between Chitunda and Xitaxi, Muidumbe district.
• 01 Dec- A group of armed ISM militants with “blunt objects,” and from the towns of Silva Macua and Ntutupue was stopping traffic and demanding money.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

• 27^th Dec- At least 8 people were beheaded in Mondel area in Lubero district following an attack by Islamic State Central Africa (ISCAP).
• 18^TH Dec- ISCAP terrorists conducted an armed assault against Congolese and Ugandan troops in Bamande village in Ituri province.
• 17^th Dec- ISCAP militants captured and beheaded three Christians near Ombole, Lubero District.
• 12^th Dec- ISCAP rebels conducts double tap armed assault and an IED Ambush targeting a Ugandan Armed forces foot patrol, in Mungamba, Ituri.
• 11^th Dec- 10 Christians were captured and executed by ISCAP in Mong(Bwalu) in Ituri Province.
• 11^th Dec- ISCAP rebels conducted and armed assault on Congolese armed forces Barracks, in Idohu.
• 11^th Dec- A Congolese armed foot patrol in Idohu in Ituri province was ambushed by a group of ISCAP rebels.
• 09^th Dec- at least three civilians were killed with machetes and a baby shot during an ISCAP attack in Idohu, Ituri.
• 09^th Dec- ISCAP militants led an armed assault on Christians where they beheaded at least three civilians in Idohu, Ituri.
• 05^th Dec- ISCAP militants led an armed assault against the Congolese Militia Forces and Christians in Mong in Ituri.
• 05^th Dec- ISCAP Rebels led an IED/armed assault double tap attack targeting Congolese Militia Forces in Mong in Ituri.
• 05^th Dec- ISCAP militants led an armed assault against the Congolese army and Militia Forces and Christians in Isang area in Isang region of Lubero District.
• 04^th Dec- Several Christians were injured in an armed assault against them by ISCAP in Ombole, Lubero district of North Kivu.
• 04^th Dec- ISCAP militants led an armed assault on Christians in Ikobais, Lubero District, North-Kivu Province.

SOMALIA

• 04^th Dec- Islamic State Somalia (ISS) terrorists detonated and IED targeting the Puntland Defense Forces in Dhasaan, Jalil Valley in Bari Region.
• 09^th Dec- Puntland Police Chief General Mumin Abdi Shire announced that Puntland security forces had destroyed more than 100 ISIS bases in the Cal-Miskaad mountains as part of ongoing counterterrorism operations.
• 22^nd – 25^th – S. Africa Command reported airstrikes against ISS in northern Somalia for four consecutive days, targeting positions in the Golis Mountain range approximately 90 kilometers southeast of Bosaso.

ANALYSIS AND INSIGHTS

D.R. CONGO

In December, the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remained highly volatile, particularly in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, due to continued attacks by armed groups, notably the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP), and the broader regional conflict involving the AFC/M23. In Lubero territory (Bapere sector), insecurity linked to ISCAP presence prompted plans for a renewed deployment of MONUSCO peacekeepers to provide logistical support to joint FARDC–UPDF forces engaged in Operation Shujaa. This support, including the possible use of UN helicopters, aims to address severe logistical constraints in remote areas and enhance the protection of civilians. The initiative followed consultations in Beni with local authorities, civil society, and traditional leaders, amid efforts to counter longstanding mistrust of MONUSCO fueled by disinformation. Despite these efforts, violence since 2024 has caused significant civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction, underscoring persistent challenges to stabilization.

At the national and regional levels, December was marked by important diplomatic and operational developments. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2808 (2025), extending MONUSCO’s mandate until December 2026, reaffirming international support for civilian protection, state stabilization, and responses to armed groups, alongside Resolution 2773 addressing the M23 crisis. These measures coincided with ongoing peace initiatives involving Rwanda, the United States, and Qatar, though serious ceasefire violations persisted, including intensified hostilities and territorial occupation in the east. On the operational front, the reopening of the Komanda-Luna section of National Route 4, closed for nearly three years due to ISCAP attacks, represented a significant improvement for security mobility and regional trade. However, the killing of civilians along the same road on the day of its reopening highlighted the fragility of the security gains and the continued threat posed by ISCAP.

SOMALIA

In December, Somalia’s security environment, particularly in the north, was shaped by an unprecedented escalation in US military operations against Islamic State Somalia and parallel actions against al-Shabab. US Africa Command conducted multiple airstrikes between December 22 and 25 targeting IS-Somalia positions in the Golis Mountains, approximately 90 kilometers southeast of Bosaso. These strikes were part of a broader surge that made 2025 the most active year for US air operations in Somalia since 2003, with more than 120 strikes recorded. Although AFRICOM did not disclose casualty figures, the sustained air campaign aimed to degrade IS-Somalia’s leadership, disrupt operational planning, and prevent the group from threatening US interests and regional stability. The airstrikes occurred alongside continued US attacks on al-Shabab targets elsewhere in the country, highlighting the dual counterterrorism pressures facing Somalia’s fragile security landscape.

The intensified US air campaign had a direct impact on IS-Somalia’s operational posture in Puntland, where the group was increasingly pushed into defensive and fragmented formations. Repeated airstrikes, including earlier high-yield attacks, destroyed cave complexes, weapons caches, and logistical hubs, forcing militants to abandon fixed bases in the Al-Miskaad and Golis mountain ranges. Intelligence assessments indicated that IS-Somalia fighters began operating in small, mobile units to evade detection, while the group’s ability to coordinate large-scale attacks and sustain supply lines was significantly reduced. Joint U.S. and Somali operations in late November and December reportedly killed senior commanders and foreign fighters, further weakening the group’s internal cohesion and command structure.

At the regional level, Puntland authorities reinforced ground operations under Operation Hilaac as the campaign entered its final phase in December. Hundreds of additional troops were deployed to the Baallade valley and surrounding areas to pursue remaining IS-Somalia elements believed to be sheltering in hard-to-access terrain. Despite recapturing the majority of the Al-Miskaad range and dismantling much of the group’s financial and logistical networks, Puntland officials acknowledged that IS-Somalia’s leadership, including founder Abdulqadir Mumin, was still likely present in the mountains. Security officials estimated that more than 100 fighters could remain active in isolated pockets, sustained by informal supply arrangements with local communities. As December closed, authorities assessed that while US airstrikes and coordinated ground offensives had severely degraded IS-Somalia’s territorial control and operational capacity, the group retained the ability to survive as a low-level but persistent security threat in northern Somalia.

MOZAMBIQUE

In December, the security situation in northern Mozambique, particularly in Cabo Delgado province, remained volatile as state and allied forces intensified operations against Islamic State Mozambique. The Rwanda Defence Force continued offensive actions across Macomia, Mocímboa da Praia, and Muidumbe districts, responding to ISM attacks and efforts to disrupt key transport routes such as the N380 highway. One of the most significant engagements occurred in Macomia district, where RDF forces reportedly killed at least 35 ISM fighters. Air operations also featured during this period, with state helicopters, likely operated by RDF, striking Nhonge Island on 27 November following clashes between ISM militants and the Mozambican navy. These operations aimed to deny ISM safe havens along the coast and restrict its freedom of movement between mainland and island locations.

Despite military pressure, ISM activity continued to affect civilians, particularly along the Macomia coastline. Armed clashes in the Simbolongo area in early December reportedly resulted in at least 35 deaths, including militants and civilians, among them women and children. Local sources indicated that ISM presence on Nhonge Island caused widespread fear, with reports of theft, abductions, and intimidation of residents, contradicting IS claims that the deployment was a non-combat preaching visit. The RDF expanded its footprint in the area by establishing new outposts at Pangane, Ilala, and Cogolo, following the capture of three ISM fighters near Pangane in late November. These measures reflected efforts to consolidate territorial control and prevent ISM fighters from reestablishing bases along the coast.

Further north, ISM activity in Nangade and Mueda districts in December highlighted the group’s continued cross-border links with Tanzania. On 10 December, ISM attacked Nambedo village near Nangade town, injuring a civilian, and later claimed responsibility for additional violence in the area. Local sources assessed that ISM movements were linked to efforts to escort militants from Tanzania into northern Mozambique, underscoring the regional dimension of the insurgency. Around 23 December, militants moved west toward Namatil in Mueda district and subsequently set up a roadblock near the Negomano border crossing, extorting money and valuables from civilians. These incidents demonstrated that, despite sustained pressure from Mozambican and allied forces, ISM retained the ability to conduct mobile operations, exploit border areas, and threaten civilian security as December ended.

Intelligence reporting during December indicated that ISM movements in Nangade and Mueda were closely linked to efforts to facilitate reinforcements from Tanzania. Local sources assessed that militants were escorting experienced fighters across informal border crossing points, suggesting an attempt to replenish depleted ranks following losses inflicted by Mozambican and Rwandan forces. ISM’s long-standing logistical and recruitment ties to Tanzania remain a key enabler of its resilience, despite Tanzanian counterterrorism efforts and its continued military presence in northern Mozambique. The reported transit of senior fighters and the use of roadblocks to gather resources point to an adaptive strategy aimed at sustaining operations in Cabo Delgado, reinforcing concerns that cross-border support networks will continue to pose a significant challenge to long-term security stabilization.

CONCLUSION

As December 2025 concluded, Islamic State-aligned groups in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mozambique remained under sustained counterterrorism pressure but not strategically defeated. While military operations significantly degraded militant infrastructure, leadership, and freedom of movement, particularly in northern Somalia and parts of Cabo Delgado; these gains have yet to translate into durable security outcomes. Across all three theatres, insurgent groups continued to demonstrate operational adaptability, exploiting difficult terrain, porous borders, and civilian vulnerabilities to sustain low-level but lethal activity.

The reporting period reinforced that security progress remains fragile and uneven, with tactical successes frequently offset by continued attacks against civilians and security forces. Cross-border facilitation networks, logistical replenishment routes, and localized support structures continue to enable Islamic State affiliates to regenerate capabilities despite sustained pressure. In the absence of coordinated regional responses and complementary political and stabilization measures, these groups are likely to persist as chronic security threats capable of undermining state authority and regional stability.

It is evident that sustained pressure on Islamic State-aligned networks will require a continued emphasis on intelligence-led operations, tighter regional coordination, and the disruption of cross-border facilitation routes that enable militant resilience. Military gains are unlikely to hold without parallel measures to protect civilians, secure recaptured areas, and prevent insurgent re-infiltration, particularly along border zones and remote terrain. Maintaining consistent international support, enhanced information-sharing, and targeted stabilization efforts will be critical to consolidating recent operational gains and limiting the ability of Islamic State affiliates to adapt, regenerate, and reassert influence across Somalia, eastern DRC, and northern Mozambique.