UCDP

General information

Part of Conflict: DR Congo (Zaire): Islamic State

Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 2017-10-31
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: In 2017 Bakulu first pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the pledge was accepted by IS in October 2017. The wilayah Central Africa Province was first mentioned by Bagdadhi on 22 August 2018. Although IS probably had a presence in the region from this date, and at least one commander who had pledged allegiance to IS cohabited with ADF (Alliance of Democratic Forces). On 24 July 2019 the leader of ADF Bakulu publicly pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

On a video released on 18 September 2020 Musa Baluku stated “There is no ADF anymore. Allah willing, ADF ceased to exist a long time ago. [...] Currently, we are a province, the Central Africa Province which is one province among the numerous provinces that make up the Islamic State that is under the Caliph and Leader of all Muslims...Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi.”

Date of first use of armed force: 2017-11-03
Comment on date of first use of armed force: The first reported attack after the end of October 2017, when ADF was accepted into IS, occurred on 3 November 2017. On that day IS/ADF abducted civilians in Boikene neighbourhood in Beni.

The first attack claimed by IS occurred on 16 April 2019. In a statement on 18 April in IS's news outlet Amaq its militants said that they had attacked DR Congo army positions at Kamango, a town near the border with Uganda, killing and injuring several security members. On 16 April suspected ADF rebels attacked an FARDC position at Bovata village near Kamango in Beni territory. The attack resulted in the deaths of two FARDC soldiers and three wounded rebels.

First Battle Related Death: 2017-11-22
Comment on First Battle Related Death: The first reported attack resulting in fatalities after the end of October 2017 when ADF was accepted into IS occurred on 22 November 2017. on that day IS attacked the armed forces of the government of DR Congo (FARDC) on the Mbau-Kamango road in Beni territory resulting in one FARDC and one civilian death.

At least two FARDC soldiers died in the ISCAP attack on DR Congo army positions at Bovata village near Kamango in Beni territory in the first attack claimed by IS on 16 April 2019.

Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2017-12-08
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Deaths from attacks and clashes with ADF has been included in this dyad from the IS acceptance of the pledge of allegiance to IS by the ADF leader Baluku in October 2017.

After this day ISCAP and DR Congo forces (FARDC) clashed regularly in the Beni territory of Nord Kivu Province. Heavy fighting was reported on 8 December 2017 when IS attacked a MONUSCO operational base at the Semuliki bridge on the Mbau-Kamango road. The attack resulted in more than 25 battle-related fatalities among FARDC, IS and MONUSCO.

Conflict issues