Islamic State (ISIS) Weekly Reports Activity Of African Affiliates: Implementing Shari'a Punishments In Nigeria; Targeting Nigerian Army Base During State Governor's Visit; Causing Flight Of Christians In DRC; Shooting Down Mozambican Army Helicopter

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Issue 441 of Islamic State (ISIS) weekly magazine Al-Naba', released on May 2, 2024,[1] contains reports of attacks and activity by the organization's African affiliates claimed for the first time.

Attack On Nigerian Army Base During Visit By Borno State Governor, Shari'a Punishments Implemented Against Thieves And Alcohol Drinker

An article in the magazine notes that the previous week's attacks in Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon killed and wounded more than 25 Nigerian soldiers and members of pro-government militias, in addition to killing three Cameroonian soldiers and a Red Cross employee.[2] The magazine quotes an "exclusive source" who reported that on April 27, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operatives clashed with a patrol of pro-government militias on the road between Pulka and Gwoza, in Nigeria's Borno state, causing them to flee and allowing the mujahideen to loot some of their possessions.

The article noted attacks on Nigerian forces in Malam Fatori, Borno state, which had been previously claimed by ISWAP. On April 20 and 30, the group's fighters attacked a base of the "apostate Nigerian army" in the town using 40-mm grenade launchers. On April 29, they fired machine guns at a Nigerian army foot patrol in the town, killing and wounding several soldiers. An "exclusive" photo shows a fighter firing a grenade launcher at the base.

An "exclusive source" revealed that after "soldiers of the caliphate" surveilled the governor of Borno state, Babagana Umara Zulum, during his visit to the Malam Fatori base, they attacked it "with various types of weapons," forcing the army to evacuate the governor by helicopter.

Al-Naba' added that ISWAP's hisbah [morality police] apparatus implemented shari'a punishments against four thieves and a man found guilty of drinking alcohol, after they were brought before one of the group's shari'a courts in Borno state's Kirinowa area. As per shari'a, the thieves had their hands amputated and the alcohol drinker was lashed. An "exclusive" photo shows a crowd, including several children, gathered to watch the punishments. The faces of the assembled have all been digitally blurred.

ISCAP Attacks On Christians, Soldiers Protecting Them In DRC, Causing Flight From Nearby Villages

Another article noted that during that week, Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) operatives killed five members of the "crusader Congolese army" and 17 Christian civilians, as well as injuring others, in the North-Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Noting that on April 29, ISCAP fighters shot 13 Christian civilians to death in Mangina, North-Kivu province, using machine guns, an "exclusive source" added that Christians subsequently fled several neighboring villages, fearing further attacks. Al-Naba' reported that local Christian organizations demanded that the Congolese and Ugandan army establish permanent camps in the town to protect locals, and urged Christians to avoid "going deep into the forests." However, the article celebrates the mujahideen for managing to attack two Congolese army foot patrols in Mangina on April 29 – killing five soldiers and wounding others – demonstrating the army's inability to protect its soldiers, let alone local Christians.

Mujahideen Shoot Down Army Helicopter In Mozambique, Burn Over 230 Christian Homes

In Mozambique, another article reported that Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) fighters injured a soldier, killed a Christian, and burned down more than 230 Christian homes in the country's Nampula province, "to which the mujahideen's operations have returned again, by Allah's grace."[3]

An "exclusive source" added that on April 11, the groups' mujahideen, using heavy and medium weapons, shot down a Mozambican army helicopter which was carrying out "offensive missions" above the mujahideen's positions in Mucojo, in the Macomia district of Cabo Delgado province. An officer and pilot were killed. Quoting local media, Al-Naba' reported that the officer was Mozambican and the pilot a South African national who had previously participated in anti-ISIS missions. On one such mission, his aircraft was shot down by ISMP fighters near Miangalewa, in Cabo Delgado's Muidumbe district, severely injuring him, "before he met his death this time – praise and thanks to Allah."