ISIS captures port city of Mocimboa da Praia in Mozambique

Refuges fleeing the violence. BBC/EPA.

ISIS linked militants have taken the port city of Mocimboa da Praia in Mozambique. BBC. The port was heavily defended but the defenders fled by boat after ISIS successfully stormed the city. The port is a critical one as it is part of Mozambique's oil industry and is close to a natural gas project worth $60 million. It is unclear if ISIS will try to hold the city. ISIS has also reported that they took two more military bases in the region. Tanzania has said that they will step up their own efforts to fight ISIS in the region and a South African mercenary company is providing helicopter support for Mozambique troops. 

My Comment:

I haven't heard too much about ISIS activity in this part of east Africa. It seems that they are a pretty big threat if they can take a critical port like this. Though ISIS has been largely defeated elsewhere the fact that there is apparently a force that can take and hold territory is disturbing. 

Though it remains to be seen if ISIS can hold this city. Driving off the defenders is one thing but keeping and holding a city is another. Keeping the city may be difficult as it appears that Mozambique now had helicopter support. Unless these fighters have anti-air weapons it might be better for them to retreat and continue their hit and run tactics. 

However, if they can keep the city it could be an economic boon for ISIS. One of the main ways ISIS in Syria and Iraq funded their operations was the sale of oil. If ISIS is able to keep this city and they can find buyers they should be able to gain quite a bit of money which they can use to fund further attacks, both in east Africa and perhaps the world. 

Doing so might have further repercussions for ISIS though. Taking and holding a major economic zone like this could cause international attention. The last thing ISIS needs is for a country like the United States to come in and drone strike their leadership. If they keep this port that is a lot more likely to happen. 

It's not very impressive that these fighters were able to defeat the Mozambique security forces in the city. Having to pull out and retreat is probably humiliating for them. Hopefully this defeat will anger the soldiers enough that they will want revenge against ISIS. These terrorists need to be defeated and it's not clear that any other country will come and help Mozambique to do son, unless the situation goes totally out of control.