Actor Profile | Islamic State Mozambique

The group now known as Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) emerged as an armed group in October 2017, known locally both as Al-Sunnah Wal Jammah (ASWJ) for their ideological underpinnings and al-Shabab for their extensive use of violence. Despite its rapid growth up to 2021, it has been one of the Islamic State’s (IS) most opaque affiliates. ISM was first recognized as a distinct IS province in May 2022, having previously been under the broader Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) organization from as early as 2018. The origins of ISM lie in East African Salafi-jihadist networks that reached into northern Mozambique from as early as 2007. This profile examines the group's origins and its development over the past decade. It uses ACLED and other data to assess the group’s objectives and consider its future prospects.