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In recent days, African Islamic State (ISIS) affiliates the Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) and the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) have claimed violent attacks on Christian civilians in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including beheadings and the burning of churches, school, and homes.
At Least 13 Christians Killed In DRC, Some By Beheading
On March 3, 2024, ISCAP reported that on February 29, its fighters attacked the Christian village of Mavivi, in the DRC's North-Kivu province, killing three Christians and capturing a fourth.[1]
On March 2, ISCAP operatives attacked another Christian village in the same province, Vemba, and beheaded a Christian villager.[2]
ISCAP operatives again attacked Vemba on March 4, capturing and beheading five Christians.[3]
On March 5, ISCAP reported that its fighters had raided Vemba on the previous day, capturing and beheading nine Christians and setting fire to more than ten homes, before returning to their positions unharmed.[4] It is unclear if these nine victims are in addition to the previous five, making a total of 14, or if ISCAP beheaded a total of nine Christians in the village on March 4.
Two Christians Killed In Mozambique, More Than 20 Homes, Churches, And A School Burned
The ISIS affiliate in Mozambique also claimed attacks on Christian villages. On March 5, ISMP reported that on February 27, its fighters attacked the Christian village of Nahuve in the Chiure district of Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. During the operation, the mujahideen set fire to a church and four houses.[5]
On February 28, ISMP operatives captured a Christian in Nahuve and beheaded him.[6]
ISMP fighters also attacked the nearby village of Muamula on February 28, killing a Christian and setting fire to a church, a school, and 19 homes.[7]
ISIS attacks on Christians in the DRC and Mozambique have been on the rise in recent weeks, with similar killings and beheadings of villagers and burnings of homes, churches, and schools.[8]
[1] Telegram, March 3, 2024.
[2] Telegram, March 3, 2024.
[3] Telegram, March 3, 2024.
[4] Telegram, March 5, 2024.
[5]Telegram, March 5, 2024.
[6] Telegram, March 5, 2024.
[7] Telegram, March 5, 2024.
[8] See MEMRI JTTM Reports: WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES: Islamic State (ISIS) Releases Depictions Of Recent Attacks Against Soldiers And Christian Civilians In Sahel, West, Southeast Africa, February 22, 2024; Islamic State Mozambique Province Releases Photoset Documenting Attacks On Christian Villages; Pro-ISIS Media Releases Poster Promising To Kill More Christians In Africa, February 23, 2024; and Islamic State Mozambique Province Releases Photos Documenting Fighters Removing Crosses From Churches; Pro-ISIS Telegram Outlet Celebrates Attacks As Beginning Of 'Conquering Rome', March 1, 2024.
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