Thread by @ryanmofarrell

ISCAP-ADF carried out a prison break operation at Kangbayi Central Prison on the outskirts of Beni city, freeing ~1300 detainees; Islamic State media outlets quickly claimed the operation
radiookapi.net/2020/10/20/act…

It's notable that a sizable military base is directly across the road - which the IS claim also said was attacked - and judging by the number of buildings, likely had ~100 soldiers; operation was well-planned, and says much about the FARDC's inability to prevent major incursions

Topographical perspective: ISCAP-ADF fighters reportedly engaged in an hour long gunbattle with FARDC troops at bases both on top of Lao hill and at the foot of the hill before breaking the doors of the prison; comes two days after IS urged prison breaks

https://twitter.com/Weissenberg7/status/1318552252148273153

Critically important, since some have attempted to argue that the ADF is not actually part of Islamic State: ADF calling themselves "Central Africa Province" and referencing IS spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurayshi's October 18th speech in their internal media longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/…

"Perhaps demonstrating ADF’s provision of accurate reporting from the ground to IS’s media apparatus, the [new] statement correctly notes that the group targeted two military bases near the prison, not just one base as widely reported in the media." longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/…

^ Pretty critical point here: most reporting, by both local outlets and international outlets, cited statements by Beni's mayor that ADF fighters attacked "a military camp"; IS's propaganda statements - first issued only five hours after the attack - mentioned two "barracks".

Commanders of 3rd company of 3rd battalion of 22nd Brigade of Rapid Reaction Units - in charge of 35 soldiers and nine police officers guarding the prison - arrested for their failure to prevent the escape of 236 ISCAP-ADF fighters and 200 Mai Mai fighters radiookapi.net/2020/10/21/act…