Africa-Press – Mozambique. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that almost 2,100 people have fled two villages as a result of recent attacks by armed groups in a protected area in northern Mozambique.
According to the latest field report from that United Nations agency, with data up to the first days of May, “the attacks and rising fears of violence triggered the displacement of approximately 2,085 individuals (511 households),as of 1 May, 2025”, who fled the districts of Macalange and Mbamba in Niassa province.
Attacks which have left two dead and two missing on the Niassa Special Reserve (REN) by alleged rebels are at issue. However, the Islamic State has recently claimed, through its propaganda channels, three deaths in an attack in the province.
According to local reports, on the afternoon of April 29, armed men invaded the Mariri sport hunting camp, an area of 42,000 km2 of land in eight districts, including Mbamba, which also covers Cabo Delgado province. This was the second case of alleged terrorist activity in the REN, the first having been recorded on April 24.
During the attacks, “some fled into the bush; others began a long journey on foot” to neighbouring villages, with the majority of those displaced ending up in the town of Mecula, according to UNHCR.
On the ground, community leaders on May 9 estimated the number of families present in Mecula town at 516. Around 400 families are currently sharing six classrooms in the 16 June Primary School, while the remaining 116 families are being hosted by host communities (often with their relatives).
According to the UN agency, 60% of the displaced fled due to fear of an “imminent attack” by armed groups, and were unable to collect their belongings prior to their escape.
“Some explained that they were working in their machambas (fields) when the attacks occurred, forcing them to begin their arduous journey on foot from remote locations through the bush,” UNHCR reports.
The President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, recently gave assurances that the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) were achieving their objectives in the pursuit of the alleged rebels.
“At the moment, there have been these attacks, but we are working with the FDS, which is on the ground pursuing the terrorists, and the developments we have seen indicate that our FDS are truly achieving their objectives,” President Chapo said.
In 2024 alone, at least 349 people died in attacks by Islamic extremist groups in Cabo Delgado, an increase of 36% compared to the previous year, according to data recently released by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, an academic institution of the US Department of Defence that analyses conflicts in Africa.
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