The breakaway faction of Somalia militants, Ahlu Sunna wa Jama, is recruiting youth in southern Tanzania to train and join terror cells in Mozambique, Ahlu Sunna wa Jama — moderate Sufis opposed to the mainly Sunni radical Islamist groups — has been operating in the region since 2005…
Tanzania’s Inspector General of Police Simon Sirro said on Thursday that the police have arrested youth from groups that had been recruited from the western regions of Mwanza and Kigoma, and who have confessed to being the ring leaders in the insurgency.
“Some were nabbed enroute to Mozambique to join the jihadists. The game plan is that they would later join their colleagues who had fled Tanzania,” said Mr Sirro.
It is still not clear whether the recruits are supposed to return to Tanzania as sleeper cells or are going to join jihadists elsewhere.
Mr Sirro hinted that the Somalia militants could be taking advantage of the disaffections from the October elections. “Tanzanian youth who took part in the operation to attack villages confessed that they were guiding attackers showing them what houses to torch,” the IGP said.
Since 2017, the militants have been focusing their attention on Cabo Delgado Province, an investment area for oil and gas multinationals.
The strategic port is used for cargo deliveries to the $60 billion-worth gas projects located 60 kilometres further north that are being developed by oil giants Total and Exxon Mobil Corp.
In 2018, Tanzania police were on high alert following rising concerns that young fighters were travelling to northern Mozambique to join the insurgency and participate in criminal activities.
