In Two-Week Span, Islamic State (ISIS) African Affiliates Kill At Least 42 Christians, Burn Over 70 Homes In 12 Attacks On Villages In Democratic Republic Of The Congo And Mozambique

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December 16, 2024

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Between December 2 - 16, 2024, Islamic State (ISIS) Mozambique and Central Africa Provinces' operatives carried out 12 attacks against Christian targets in their respective areas of operation. More than 42 Christian villagers were reportedly killed – several by beheading – and over 70 homes, as well as several motorcycles, were burned.

Islamic State Central Africa Province Claim Nine Attacks, In Which Over 37 Christians Were Killed

In a statement dated December 3, 2024, Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) reported that its operatives, using machine guns, had killed and wounded 15 "infidel" Christians, including a soldier among the ranks of the Congolese army.[1]

During the attack, which targeted the village of Totolito in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)'s Beni province on December 1, ISCAP fighters burned two motorcycles, more than 10 houses, and seized some of their possessions.

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On the following day, December 4, ISCAP reported that on December 3, its fighters, armed with machine guns, had assaulted the Christian village of Oicha in Beni province, DRC.[2]

Sixteen villagers were killed, and 20 houses and two motorcycles were set on fire, the statement added.

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On December 7, six Christians were captured and later beheaded in an operation carried out by ISCAP operatives against the Christian village of Bandulu in the Lubero territory of DRC's North-Kivu province. The attack was reported on December 8.[3]

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Two days later, on December 10, ISCAP claimed that its operatives had kidnapped 11 Christians on December 6, near the town of Eringeti, Ituri Province, DRC. The statement further reported that one of the captives had been beheaded.[4]

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On December 12, three Christians were killed with machine guns, and another was captured, in an attack by ISCAP fighters in the Christian village of Chabi in DRC's Ituri Province. The statement, dated December 13, noted that the group's operatives had burned three houses down.[5]


On the same day, December 12, ISCAP's fighters captured three Christians as they drove their motorcycles, and beheaded one of them near the village of Iringite, Ituri Province, in DRC. The statement, dated December 13, further claimed that the fighters burned the motorcycles.[6]

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On December 15, ISCAP reported that on the previous day, December 14, its operatives had captured and beheaded two Christians near Ofaye Otto Maber, in DRC's Ituri province.[7]

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Also, on December 14, three Christians were killed while over 20 houses were set on fire in an ISCAP assault against the Christian village of Maponda, in the Lubero territory of DRC's North-Kivu province.[8]

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Subsequently, two Christians were beheaded, another one was captured, and two motorcycles were burned along with several houses and stores, in an attack operated by ISCAP operatives on December 14 against the Christian village of Ndalya, in DRC's Ituri province.[9]

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Islamic State Mozambique Province Claim Three Attacks, In Which Five Christians Were Killed

On December 4, Islamic State Mozambique Province (SMP) reported that its fighters had kidnapped and later killed three Christians near a village in Muidumbe District, in Cabo Delgado province.[10]

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Also, two houses and a shop belonging to Christians were burned, soon after the locals of Mairiri village, in Cabo Delgado province, fled the area, after an ISMP assault targeted them on December 8, according to a statement dated December 9.[11]

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ISMP operatives further reported to have killed two Christians with machine guns, on December 11, during an attack against the Christian village of Miangaliwa in Cabo Delgado Province. The statement, dated December 12, added that ISMP fighters had burned several houses and shops in the village.[12]

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[1] December 3, 2024.

[2] December 4, 2024.

[3] December 8, 2024.

[4] December 10, 2024.

[5] December 13, 2024.

[6] December 13, 2024.

[7] December 15, 2024.

[8] December 17, 2024.

[9] December 17, 2024.

[10] December 4, 2024.

[11] December 9, 2024.

[12] December 12, 2024.


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