congo Archives

Analysis: The Islamic State’s targeting of a Chinese mine in Congo proves the group is a resilient threat

Caleb Weiss & Ryan O'Farrell | March 24, 2026

The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP), known locally as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), raided and burned down a Chinese-owned mine in eastern Congo earlier this month. The raid, which was far from the jihadist group’s normal area of operation, highlights both ISCAP’s threats to Congo’s mining sector and its resilience after nearly five years of a sustained military operation against it.

Analysis: The Islamic State’s war on Christians in Congo

Caleb Weiss & Ryan O'Farrell | December 12, 2025

The Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP), locally known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), has killed almost 1,000 civilians this year, with the vast majority of its victims being Christian villagers. ISCAP has explicitly framed its attacks as a war against Congo’s Christians. However, the group’s rhetoric has changed in recent months to also focus on trying to convert Christians to Islam.

Jihadis continue to target civilians in western Uganda

Caleb Weiss | December 27, 2023

At least 62 people have been killed by the Islamic State’s local arm in western Uganda since June.

Analysis: Islamic State strikes in western Uganda

Caleb Weiss & Ryan O'Farrell | October 18, 2023

The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province, known locally as the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, mounted its second attack in western Uganda since last Friday. The mobile unit currently operating inside Uganda represents the first sustained guerrilla presence in the country since 2007.

PULI: Uganda’s Other (Short-lived) Jihadi Group

Caleb Weiss & Ryan O'Farrell | July 25, 2023

The story of the Pan-Ugandan Liberation Initiative, a short-lived splinter faction of the more infamous Islamic State-loyal ADF that was destroyed earlier this year, provides important details and context in the ADF’s overall ideological trajectory and history.