Africa-Press – Mozambique. A group of illegal miners on Monday looted and vandalized properties belonging to foreigners in Luluti administrative post, Mogovolas district, in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula.
The group, which consisted of 300 illegal miners, attacked stores and houses owned by foreign traders in retaliation for the ban imposed by the authorities who had ordered then not to invade a mine legally occupied by a foreign citizen.
According to Emanuel Impissa, administrator of Mogovolas, cited in Wednesday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, the miners’ attack follows an action carried out by the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) in order to prohibit the exploration of a mine “occupied by a citizen, whose nationality is about to be ascertained. He is located around nine kilometers from the headquarters of the Luluti administrative post.”
During the rioting, several people suffered minor injuries.
Mogovolas has been the scene of episodes of violence, including mass demonstrations that turned into rioting following the results of the general elections held last October.
Mogovolas has also been a battlefield between the local residents and the authorities following the wave of disinformation about the causes of cholera, which led to the murder of community leaders and the destruction of houses.
The rioters had forced the closure of a health unit, and attacked health workers because of rumours that these authorities were spreading cholera. The main result of the attack on cholera treatment facilities has been to drive the NGO Doctors without Borders (MSF) out of the district.
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