Monthly Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East and Central Africa (Somalia, Mozambique, DR-Congo): Tracking Islamic State Terrorists in August 2021

ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique and DRC (August 2021)

Mozambique

• 01^st Aug- several soldiers were killed and injured following an ISCAP attack in Mandava, Muidumbe.
• 02^nd Aug- ISCAP militants set fires and attacked Diaca, MDP
• 02^nd Aug- a soldier killed in Mandava, CD by insurgents
• 16^th Aug- insurgents attempted to attack Nangade district capital, but Mozambican forces repelled them at Litingina and engaged in a fierce firefight.
• 17^th Aug- two suspected insurgents were arrested in Ilha Matemo in Ibo District after the residents suspected and reported them to security forces.
• 18^th Aug- 8 ISCAP insurgents were arrested near Pequeue, in Macomia as they retreating south to avoid the joint Rwandan-Mozambican offensive in MDP.
• 18^th Aug- insurgents gathered in Litingina and were planning an attack before they were dispersed by government helicopters.
• 20^th Aug– insurgents decapitated a civilian in Samora Machel, Nangade district before they were driven out by a joint effort between a local militia and government troops.
• 26^th Aug– At least 3 people were beheaded by the insurgents in Mucojo, Macomia
• 24^th Aug– 10 fishermen were killed by beheading and 3 others injured after they were attacked by ISCAP in Mucojo as they traveled to Macomia.

DRC

• 03^rd Aug- 17 Christians were killed by ISCAP in Idohu village in Irumu territory, Ituri
• 4^th Aug- 3 Congolese soldiers kidnapped and taken as POWs by ISCAP following clashes near Mabeba, Ituri.
• 08^th Aug- 1 soldier killed and several others injured following clashes between military and insurgents near barracks in Maksabo, Rwenzori sector
• 8^th Aug- a Congolese soldier was captured and executed by insurgents in Mabeba, Ituri province.
• 10^th Aug- at least 10 homes burnt soldiers and civilians killed in clashes with militants in Kainama in Beni.
• 14^th Aug- a Congolese military barracks was attacked in Kikingi village in Beni.
• 17^th Aug- insurgents with machine guns attacked two trucks carrying Christians in Awfah village in Ituri province killing one person and injuring several others.
• 19^th Aug- at least 13 people were killed and houses razed to the ground after militants attacked Katanda in the chiefdom of Bashu in Beni.
• 26^th Aug- ISCAP fighters attacked Congolese military barracks in Kilibo Village in Beni where weapons and ammo were seized.
• 27^th Aug- at least 5 bodies were recovered in Kainama in Beni territory, North Kivu.
• 27^th Aug- at least 14 people were killed by ISCAP in daytime attacks in Kasanza in the Ruwenzori sector.
• 30^th Aug- at least 10 children among whom five underage girls are missing after an attack in Zungulaka in Irumu, Ituri

SOMALIA

• 15^th Aug- 2 SNA soldiers were wounded after a security checkpoint in Trepaino district, Mogadishu was attacked by an IED.
• 18^th Aug- ISS fighters captured the area of Balidhidin in the Bari region after killing the District commissioner
• 28^th Aug- ISS militants detonated an IED on a foot patrol within a convoy of Puntland forces in Ali Maskad south of Bosaso.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

The Mozambican and Rwandan forces announced that they were in full control of Mocimboa da Praia town for the first time since August 2020. Intelligence reports that despite MDP being the headquarters for ISCAP they did not mount fierce counter-attacks to protect it. The continuous campaigns by Mozambican and allied troops have been unexpectedly meeting low resistance in the offensive a move that has been termed as delay tactics by the group to retreat and regroup. While the victory and recapture of areas appear to be momentous, the troops mustn’t relent as ISCAP is far from defeated.

Neighboring Tanzanian forces appear to have stepped up domestic operations in tandem with the regional intervention. Every village within 40km of Mtwara town has established village checkpoints within the last couple of weeks to check identity papers, and security force patrols in the area are checking the papers of everyone they come across. This was in response to recent intelligence that indicates that ISCAP fighters have been fleeing Mozambique and into Tanzania where they plan to either lay low or launch attacks on the SAMIM, Mozambican and Rwandan troops that have been conducting CT operations in Cabo Delgado.

The US also designated Bonomado Omar alias ibn Omar as a core insurgent leader and a communications conduit for the group as a terrorist for his foreign connections and logistical support he offers the group. The designation is a clear step in the war against the group as the leadership of the group has been elusive for the most part.

In DRC, the ISCAP has been consistently attacking Congolese military barracks to restocks on weapons and ammo as they gear up to launch attacks in retaliation to the ongoing offensive by UN peacekeepers and state of siege in the two provinces; North Kivu and Ituri. DRC authorized the deployment of the US Special Forces to help the country’s military in the battle against the ISCAP. The US forces will boost the Congolese army’s fight against ADF in the national parks of Virunga and Garamba and the mission is expected to last a few weeks.

Additionally, the residents have cautiously welcomed the recent deployment of US experts and Kenyan Peacekeepers who they hope will be of better help seeing as both have expertise fighting jihadists. Especially, they are enthused by the fact that Kenyan troops have African-oriented experience and are hopeful that the troops will do what other peacekeepers have failed rapidly and permanently.

Intelligence further indicates that, while the military has been attacking the militants and their camps, they have been circling back and reestablishing camps in cleared locations, for instance, there have been reports of new camps in Mwenda, Kikingi, and Kainama along the Nzobulo river in Ruwenzori sector. This is especially worrisome becomes intelligence has been reporting suspicious movements and reported the creation of camps before most major attacks in both Beni and Irumu. Despite the state of siege, the militants continue to pose a threat to the civilian populations and are back to looting and kidnapping civilians including children.

It is the primary goal of security and CT operators in DRC, Mozambique, and DRC to capitalize on the small gains by the joint efforts in countering the activities of the terror groups. In all countries, it appears that the groups have all been making headway and occupying more territories and as such CT actors ought to not be outbid by them besides extending foothold in other areas.

More than ever, CT actors should evaluate the success and shortcoming of existing COIN strategies especially in dealing with the ever-changing threat. Outdated methods have proven ineffective and it is paramount that the security apparatuses adjust accordingly in providing lasting remedies. Besides, marginalization and poverty-instigated insurgencies are rarely addressed by military interventions alone without addressing the underlying societal, economic, and political issues as evidenced by the inflation of the reach by the groups, especially in Cabo Delgado and Beni.