Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Millennium Bim bank, one of Mozambique’s main banks, on Wednesday said that it will resume activities in Palma, a district affected by armed attacks in northern Mozambique when security conditions are reinstated.
“I believe that as soon as the district returns to normality and all the conditions are created, the population and all the state institutions will return, we will probably also resume our activities,” said José Mesquita, the bank’s northern area coordinator.
He was speaking to the media during a visit to Palma to survey the damage caused by insurgent groups to the bank’s branch in that district.
The attack on Palma, near the gas project under construction, took place on 24 March, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.
The district hosts the natural gas exploration project led by Total, the largest private investment in Africa (around €20 billion), which has been suspended due to insecurity in the region.
According to José Mesquita, the internal part of the Palma branch suffered the most damage following the attacks and, when conditions are ready, it could be put back into operation in around 45 days.
“[The return will depend on] an evaluation that will have to be made when all the security conditions are assured. We can in no way have our employees running risks,” he said.
The coordinator said that the branch in Mueda district had reopened on 31 August.
Armed groups have been terrorising Cabo Delgado province since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
On Tuesday, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said that the actions of armed groups had resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 people, the flight of over 850,000 and the destruction of hundreds of social and economic infrastructures.
