The Islamic State, once regarded as having been a defeated face of Islamic terrorism, has had very successful pushes and establishments of growing cells throughout many regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, there is now a wing of the Islamic State farther south in Africa than ever before, in Mozambique. The forces in Mozambique are large and growing, having time to establish themselves, indoctrinate the populace, establish themselves as mild authority, and to fight a guerilla war on their terms. Rwandan forces, EU training forces, and South African intelligence officials are ll working in various capacities to contain this growing threat. I analyze this as a sign of a very long term struggle that i shaping up for the African states. Firstly, the authorities that are poised to level such threats do not have strong track records of being effective fighting forces, such as Rwanda and Mozambique, unlike the very successful ISIL leadership that is playing a role in this from the Middle East. This also bodes poorly for many upcoming years because of the different nature of this enemy compared to the numerous overthrowings and revolutions in Africa, often by a secular military force. As a religious entity, lobbying for active participation from the populace rather than compliance, paired with fervor upon conversion, thousands will be prepared to fight drawn out wars for many years, and go to greater lengths, unlike in a coup. To relate this development back to International Relations, I see the operations of ISIS from afar in Mozambique as a very good example of acting as a smart power, drawing from their own military abilities and also the soft powers of international workings. There is already growing rumors of Arab leadership and instructors seen in Africa, with their own means and funding working to establish this satellite state under their guidance. On top of this, however, is evidence of aid and support towards ISIS in Mozambique from Afghanistani forces, due to the the Taliban’s diplomatic and militaristic connections with ISIS central in Syria. Unlike terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS also operates as a country largely, using such standards militarily in very limited uses of the term while also using diplomacy, showing what I take, as a “Smart Power.”
