Yesterday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for its first attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In one of the claims, IS states that these attacks occurred within its so-called ‘Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiya’ (Mid/Central Africa). Wassim Nasr notes that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has talked about this ‘wilayah’ previously in his August 22, 2018 speech. Interestingly, in al-Baghdadi’s speech following the announcement of IS’s self-proclaimed Caliphate in July 2014, he mentions the Central African Republic, but not the Democratic Republic of Congo. CAR has been a topic jihadis in general have discussed more so than DRC historically.
As Caleb Weiss highlights however, there is a history of connections between IS and some militant groups in the country. Since this is such an under-covered phenomenon, I thought it would be useful to share resources related to this topic to help contextualize and better understand it based on content I have saved over the years. It is not a ton, but better than nothing. If anyone wants to add anything to the following dossier let me know and I will post it so there is a fuller picture. From oldest to most recent.
—
January 17, 2013:
Authorities on alert after al-Shabaab, Ugandan militants join forces
July 1, 2014:
U.S. imposes sanctions on Islamist group in Congo for targeting children
January 9, 2015:
February 19, 2015:
New insights on Congo’s Islamist rebels – The Washington Post
May 11, 2015:
Congo seeks extradition of Islamist rebel chief from Tanzania – Reuters
September 27, 2016:
Jihadis in Congo? Probably not
December 26, 2016:
Rebels Blamed for Killing 25 With Machetes in Congo
December 8, 2017:
Islamist attack kills at least 15 UN peacekeepers and five soldiers in DRC – The Guardian
February 23, 2018:
Congo Army gruesomely destroys base of Islamist rebel group – Business Insider
May 24, 2018:
AU confirms ISIS infiltration in countries, including Somalia – Shabelle
July 31, 2018:
The Islamic State in East Africa
November 2, 2018:
Violence and Viruses_ How a Poorly Armed Insurgency in the Congo Poses a Global Threat – Jamestown
November 14, 2018:
Inside the ADF Rebellion A Glimpse into the Life and Operations of a Secretive Jihadi Armed Group
November 15, 2018:
Financier of Islamic State paid money to rebel group in eastern Congo: report – Reuters
November 24, 2018:
U.S. says receives credible terrorist threat against facilities in Congo – Reuters
December 3, 2018:
Threat from Islamic State-Affiliated Group Reason DRC US Embassy Closed
December 4, 2018:
The tentative ties between the Allied Democratic Forces and ISIS
December 7, 2018:
Militants kill at least 18 civilians in Congo’s Ebola zone – Reuters
February 9, 2019:
April 18, 2019:
Islamic State claims attack in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – FDD’s Long War Journal
Islamic State claims:
