Eyes on Africa: ISCAP Releases Propaganda Video from DRC

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: THIS BLOG CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND CONTENT SOME MAY FIND DISTURBING. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. 

Bottom Line Up Front 

On 26 September 2025, Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) released an 18-minute video entitled "Jihad and Dawah". 

Poster advertising "Jihad and Dawah"

The video opens with scenes depicting the Crusades. A narrator highlights that the Crusaders aimed to destroy Islam and subjugate Muslims and states that their campaign included Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia. Images of American soldiers and George W. Bush flash across the screen during the opening credits and the video specifically frames the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OI) as a Crusader campaign against Islam. The CJTF-OI is an international coalition of military forces with the aim of destroying the Islamic State. 

Screenshot from Jihad and Dawah's opening sequence depicting Crusaders on horseback. 

In Detail 

The video goes on to state that the campaign against Islam extends beyond the Crusades and that there are other "soft deceptive" campaigns against Islam, which IS describes as international missionary institutions. As the narrator talks about these institutions, images of the Red Cross and the UN are shown. The narrator states that the "missionary institutions" operate under the guise of relief and humanitarian aid provision. This is notable rhetoric probably designed to appeal to Muslims in areas affected by hardship where international relief organisations are likely to operate. 

Image of Red Cross trucks shown in Jihad and Dawah

Image of UN emblems from Jihad and Dawah

The opening sequence next shows imagery depicting Belgian and French military activity in both DRC and the Republic of Congo. The narrator speaks of "the French and Belgian invasion of the Congo" likely referring to both the DRC and the Republic of Congo since DRC was a Belgian colony while the Republic of Congo was a French colony. The video makes a point of stating that Muslim slaves were tortured and abused by the colonial authorities and says that their children were "subjected" to secular education. Islamic education is a core pillar of IS's ideology. 

The next section features an unidentified member of ISCAP, located in the jungles of DRC, speaking about the importance of Muslims resisting the Crusaders in Tanzania, Uganda and Congo. He states that the Muslims who resisted the Crusaders in these countries found truth in the shadows of the Islamic State. He highlights that these fighters pledged allegiance to IS in the Islamic year of 1435 (November 2013 to September 2014). 

The beginning of the video follows a logical flow and has a historical tone such as would be expected from a documentary about historical events. This is made clear by the next section in the video which shows footage from past ISCAP attacks against Christians, framing them as "Christians paying the price for their aggression against Muslims". It should be noted that the victims in ISCAP attacks against Christians are local Christians from DRC and not against Christians from Europe, who carried out the Crusades. This shows that ISCAP is justifying their attacks against Congolese and other African Christians through the lens of justice for the Muslim victims of the Crusades. This is also a feature of IS propaganda from the group's Mozambican branch where Christians are frequent targets. This part of the video notably also states that ISCAP deliberately targets the armies of both DRC and Uganda. Uganda is often overlooked as a theatre in which ISCAP operates. The narrator boasts that over the past decade, IS have killed and displaced Christians in Uganda and DRC and burned down their churches and army barracks. The visuals displayed during this part of the video are striking and cut into a sequence that maximises fear by showing victims as well as numerous burning buildings and vehicles. 

The video states that other tactics against Christians in the region include cutting off trade routes and "exhausting" governments. An image is shown of French president Macron's meeting with DRC president Felix Tshisekedi in March 2023, a visit which was marked by some anti-French sentiment in Kinshasa. 

Notably, the next section is marked by a striking and unusual French-language hadith in the background, clearly tailored to appeal to the region. As with many of Islamic State's official videos, the video is highly edited and produced for maximum propaganda effect. Images of killed soldiers and burning vehicles flash across the screen as the French hadith plays. 

Eyes on Uganda 

Uganda is mentioned again in the next part of the video and its importance to ISCAP should not be overlooked. The video shows a main speaker in front of a small group of armed ISCAP fighters in the jungle. The speaker gives a message to Uganda in particular. 

The speaker states that the ISCAP suicide bombings near the parliament buildings in Kampala in 2021 were only a small part of what ISCAP has planned for the future in Uganda. This points to possible future ISCAP attacks in Kampala. The fact that the group is openly threatening a major African capital city is highly concerning. The group has previously clearly demonstrated their ability to successfully target Kampala. 

In another part of the video, an ISCAP cell sends a message to Ugandan President Yoweri K. Museveni, who ISCAP calls a tyrant. The speaker in the video frames his actions in the context of ancient times, comparing the conflict between ISCAP and the Ugandan state to the conflict between Moses and the Egyptian Pharaoh who enslaved the Israelites, believed by some scholars to have been Ramses II.  The speaker highlights that ISCAP will be victorious over the Ugandan state as Moses was victorious over the Egyptian Pharaoh. IS is attempting to project power and strength over adversity as is the theme in the story of Moses' victory over the Egyptian Pharaoh which led to the freeing of the Israelites. This part of the video is especially graphic and shows the execution of four victims. 

Past Attacks

As is a relatively common feature in IS propaganda videos, this video shows footage from a range of recent attacks by this Wilayah (IS branch). Notable attacks include: 

• Attack on an army position in Luna, Ituri Province, DRC - The video of this attack is narrated by the martyr Sheikh Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari and it is stated that the village was taken over by ISCAP after its inhabitants fled. The video shows the burning of what IS describes as army barracks. Arson is a common tactic employed by ISCAP. The voice of a martyr is also a recruitment tactic used by extremists to highlight that dying for the cause is an honour. 

• Clash with the DRC armed forces near Mambasa, Ituri Province. The thick forested terrain is a common feature of the battleground in this area. The video appears to show four victims. 

• The group states that they took control of the road to Kasindi, Beni Region, North-Kivu Province. Kasindi sits on the RN4 road which leads to the Ugandan border. Security forces should be aware of the IS tactic of taking control of strategic roads. The roads to the Ugandan border in North-Kivu and Ituri are likely targets for ISCAP. This part of the video shows a fighter stating that it was easy for them to take the road and that they were provided with livestock as spoils of the attack. 

• Attack on a "militia" in Lwemba, Ituri Province. IS often refers to local self-defence groups as militias. Two victims are seen during this attack. 
  
  
• Attack on a Congolese army barracks in what is likely Alunguou in North-Kivu Province. As with all the other attacks in this list, it was carried out during the day. At least three victims are seen and the video briefly shows equipment and weaponry seized by ISCAP as a result of the attack. 

ISCAP calls on Muslims in other parts of Africa to make Hijra to the Caliphate

The video shows an address by an armed fighter to Muslims in Eastern, Southern and Central Africa in particular. The speaker urges Muslims from these regions to make hijra to "the land of Islam in the Congo". He urges them to "answer the call of the Caliph" and quotes Mohammed as saying "and when you are called to battle then go forth". The speaker asks the watchers whether they would thus remain in the land of unbelief instead of emigrating to the Islamic State. He states that the brothers of these would-be recruits are waiting for them. The speaker refers to those waiting for the new recruits as Muhajireen (emigrants who have joined the Caliphate) and as Ansar (supporters or helpers). He appears to be making the point that others who have emigrated to join the Caliphate will be there to support the new recruits. This theme of support is emphasised by the imagery of members of ISCAP embracing each other. The video attempts to show the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie within the ISCAP ranks, perhaps appealing to possible recruits who are apprehensive to make the journey. 

The video also shows a fighter calling on Muslims from the Congo (unclear whether DRC or the Republic of Congo), Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to make hijra to the Caliphate. He calls on them to fight in support of their religion and to fight their enemies. He states also that if they cannot join ISCAP, they should attack the Christians and Jews wherever they are. This highlights the ever-present threat of IS -inspired attacks in parts of Africa where the group does not have an official presence  or Wilayah. 

Preaching activities

The video shows ISCAP carrying out what the video describes as faith campaigns and missions to teach Christians about Islam. Men in civilian clothing can be seen praying in the Islamic way (ie. performing Salah or Salat) and attending lectures on Islam by an ISCAP member. The campaigns appear to have taken place in rural locations. 

The video claims that the campaigns and missions resulted in dozens of Christians converting to Islam. Viewers are also shown groups of individuals, including children, pledging allegiance to IS. This event highlights the relative ease with which ISCAP can recruit people on the ground and it is clear that ISCAP values both in-person and online recruitment. Therefore, anti-recruitment campaigns should consider both of these when implementing plans to prevent and counter radicalisation by ISCAP. 

Converts to Islam pledge allegiance to IS. 

Converts to Islam pledge allegiance to IS. 

Converts to Islam pledge allegiance to IS. 

Training

The video shows the training of recruits including shooting practice and reading of the Quran. They are also shown pledging allegiance to the current Caliph of IS, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.   

New recruits pledge allegiance to the current IS Caliph.

Conclusion

The video concludes with very brief messages in English from two speakers. One speaker urges the world to stop calling them the ADF. The ADF was an armed group that pledged allegiance to IS in 2019. 

This video highlights ISCAP's extensive recruitment, fighting, and propaganda capabilities. Their threats against Uganda should not be taken lightly and it is clear that the group is highly skilled, capable of carrying out deadly attacks on army positions. They are also active in rural communities as is evident through the recruitment and conversion of Christians in rural DRC. Their threats against Christians and Jews is of great concern alongside their online messaging through this video calling on Muslims in other African countries in the region to kill Jews and Christians. It is not surprising that ISCAP explicitly calls for the media to stop calling them the ADF as the ADF's pledge of allegiance to IS was a turning point for the ADF where they became fully part of ISCAP. Indeed, failing to recognise the ADF's transformation into part of a multi-national Jihadist terrorist group would be a mistake. Counter-radicalisation efforts should focus on all the countries listed in the video and regional powers like Tanzania and South Africa need to lead the charge in this space as they likely have more resources than small nations like Burundi, for example. 

ISCAP remains one of the biggest Jihadist threats to Africa and the sophistication of this video shows how important Central, Southern and East Africa remain for Islamic State. The world and regional powers need to act sooner rather than later by employing the right people in the counter-terrorism industry, which can be done through better anti-corruption enforcement and collaboration with the private intelligence sector.