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Issue 471 of Islamic State (ISIS) weekly Al-Naba', dated November 28, contained an "exclusive" two-page article detailing operations by the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since late October.[1] Citing an "exclusive source," the article reports that "various" ISCAP operations targeted concentrations of Congolese armed forces and Christian villages in the country's Ituri and North-Kivu provinces over this period, resulting in "dozens" of deaths and the burning of dozens of houses.
The following is a summary of the article's claims.
Christian Civilians Beheaded, Over 60 Houses Burned In Assaults On Pro-Congolese Army Militias, Christian Villages In Ituri Province
The article reports that ISCAP operatives assaulted a concentration of "militias allied with the Congolese army" on October 21 in the village of Mabotohi, Ituri province, using machine guns. The attack resulted in the deaths of two soldiers, the wounding of others, and the retreat of the forces. Afterwards, the operatives attacked Christian residents of the village, capturing and beheading two, setting fire to over 60 houses, and seizing property, before leaving the area unharmed.
On the same day, operatives of the group carried out another machine gun attack against a concentration of the "militias" in Soma, causing the forces to flee and seizing ammunition. Three days later, on October 24, ISCAP operatives machine-gunned a site of the militias in Mayamoto, which resulted in the retreat of the forces and the seizure of ammunition.
Additionally, ISCAP operatives attacked a position of the militias in Bandimbila on October 31, seizing ammunition following the retreat of the forces. A November 2 ISCAP assault targeted a barracks of "Congolese militias" in Ilota. The group also assaulted Christian residents in the village, causing them to flee and seizing property.
On November 9, ISCAP operatives confronted a patrol of the militias in the village of Linda Kamori, forcing the forces to flee and seizing ammunition.
Over 30 Christian Villagers Killed, More Than 50 Houses Burned In Lubero Territory
On October 21, ISCAP assaulted the village of Magazini, in the Lubero territory of the North-Kivu province, capturing and beheading eight Christian villagers and seizing property. A day later, the group beheaded eight additional Christians in the village of Manghadi, Lubero. ISCAP operatives assaulted the Christian village of Hoho on October 23, shooting 12 locals to death.
The group attacked a site of pro-Congolese army militias in Dari, Lubero on October 24, resulting in the retreat of the forces and the seizure of ammunition. On October 26, the group beheaded a Christian civilian in Makazini. Two days later, on October 28, an ISCAP machine gun attack targeted a barracks of "Congolese militias" in the village of Kenya, killing two soldiers and causing the forces to flee. The operatives then assaulted Christian residents of the village, killing four, burning several houses, and taking spoils.
On October 29, ISCAP operatives killed five Christian villagers and captured one in the village of Mitali. On November 11, the group machine-gunned a barracks of the Congolese army in the Christian village of Mbau, North-Kivu. The attack killed two soldiers, wounded others, and caused the forces to retreat, allowing the group to seize weapons and ammunition. The operatives further assaulted civilians in the village, killing two, capturing others, and setting about 50 houses on fire. They also seized spoils before returning to their positions unharmed.
Three Christians Killed, Two Captured In Ituri
Al-Naba' also notes that On November 20, operatives of the group carried out an ambush on the road connecting Kainama and Eringite, near the village of Banko, killing three Christians riding a motorcycle with machine gun fire. The operatives further captured two Christians on the road and set fire to their vehicle.
Congolese, Ugandan Forces Launch Combing Operations To Stop Expansion Of ISCAP Operations
The writer claims that following the "return" of the group's attacks to the Beni territory of North-Kivu and the "great losses" they inflicted on Christians in the region, several "Christian organizations" have recently called on the joint forces of the Congolese and Ugandan armies to launch "preemptive military campaigns" against the group. However, the organizations questioned the ability of the armies to preserve their alliance and "secure the necessary resources for the ongoing battle of attrition."
Also according to the article, Congolese and Ugandan forces began combing operations in several areas of Beni on November 21, in an effort to prevent the group's operations from expanding into the eastern areas of North-Kivu. Nevertheless, the article asserts that the operations failed to achieve their objectives.
On November 27, ISCAP claimed responsibility for beheading three Christians and burning 20 houses in a November 26 attack on a "Christian gold mine" in the Beni region of North-Kivu.[2]
[1] Telegram, November 29, 2024.
[2] See MEMRI JTTM report: Islamic State (ISIS) African Affiliates Kill Seven Christians In Six Attacks On Villages And Gold Mine, Burn Dozens Of Homes And Churches, November 28, 2024.
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