Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiya Extends Its Presence to Mozambique

For an archive of other backgrounders click here.

Earlier this week, under the Islamic State’s Wilayat Wasat Ifriqya (Central African Province), which itself is new, announced attacks for the first time in Mozambique. This is not necessarily surprising considering the expansion strategy IS has undertaken since the fall of Baghouz, Syria in March 2019. Yet rumors of IS’s presence in Mozambique goes back at least a year. There has also been rising violence and militancy in Mozambique’s north now for a couple of years. Therefore, it is unsurprising that IS would attempt to co-opt and/or take advantage of the situation to further build out its presence in Africa as well as remain more relevant as it attempts to rebuild itself in its core territories of Iraq and Syria. As with any form of militancy, while this might seem like it came out of nowhere, there is always a background and evolution to this phenomenon as will be seen in this post.

For now, you will find details below on what we know about extremism and militancy in Mozambique prior to this IS announcement. 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.

October 5, 2017:

Attack in Mozambique leaves two police officers dead

October 7, 2017:

16 killed as Islamic gunmen attack Mozambique police

October 31, 2017:

Mozambique’s first Islamist attacks shock the region – ISS Africa

March 29, 2018:

VIDEO: A new radicalized ‘Al Shabab – Boko Haram’, but this time in Mozambique – Al Arabiya English

April 13, 2018:

Isis fighters infiltrate neighbouring Mozambique – The Citizen

May 24, 2018:

AU confirms ISIS infiltration in countries — Shabelle

May 29, 2018:

Suspected Islamists behead 10 in Mozambique: local sources

June 2, 2018:

How Mozambique’s smuggling barons nurtured jihadists – BBC News

June 3, 2018:

Police kill nine ‘insurgents’ in Mozambique

June 5, 2018:

Attackers hack seven to death in Mozambique – Al Jazeera

June 11, 2018:

Mozambique’s own version of Boko Haram is tightening its deadly grip

June 11, 2018:

Experts Alarmed at Rise of Jihadi Terrorism in Mozambique

June 13, 2018:

Mozambique jihadists lay siege to once sleepy villages

June 14, 2018:

Le Mozambique face à son « Boko Haram »

Is another Boko Haram or al-Shabaab erupting in Mozambique – ISS Africa

Ansar al-Sunna: A New Militant Islamist Group Emerges in Mozambique – Jamestown

June 17, 2018:

New jihadist group behind spate of attacks in northern Mozambique – France 24

June 20, 2018:

Mozambique’s own version of Boko Haram is tightening its deadly grip – The Independent

Shadowy insurgents threaten Mozambique gas bonanza – Financial Times

June 21, 2018:

Islamist Terrorism in Mozambique: An Emerging Threat?

June 22, 2018:

Mozambique’s mysterious insurgency – M&G

July 25, 2018:

Beheadings in Mozambique mark Islamist threat in new gas frontier – Reuters

July 30, 2018:

Emerging Militant Group Threatens Villages, Gas Projects in Mozambique – WSJ

August 3, 2018:

‘Kidnapped’ SA man actually arrested for ‘terrorism links’ in Mozambique – The Citizen

August 8, 2018:

A bubbling Islamist insurgency in Mozambique could grow deadlier – Burnings and beheadings

August 13, 2018:

Mozambique police name ‘ringleaders’ behind Islamist threat – Reuters

September 21, 2018:

At least 12 killed, 14 wounded in Mozambique jihadist attacks: source – News24

October 5, 2018:

Mozambique’s Next Step in Countering Violent Extremism – Africa Up Close

November 20, 2018:

Mozambique’s apparent Islamist insurgency poses multiple threats – ISS Africa

November 25, 2018: 

Mozambique – 12 personnes tuées par des islamistes présumés – Africanews

November 26, 2018:

Suspected Al-Shabab militants kill 12 in north Mozambique — Shabelle

December 19, 2018:

Mozambique: Jihadist Violence Continues to Rise in Cabo Delgado

January 11, 2019:

Opaque insurgency grinds on in gas-rich Mozambican region

January 15, 2019:

Suspected jihadists kill 12 in northern Mozambique | News24

February 8, 2019:

Nouvelle attaque islamiste meurtrière au Mozambique, des femmes enlevées

February 22, 2019:

1 mort et 6 blessés au Mozambique au cours d’attaques jihadistes présumées contre Anadarko

March 16, 2019:

Suspected jihadists kill 13 in northern Mozambique » Manila Bulletin News

April 5, 2019: