Africa-Press – Mozambique. At least 29 people lost their lives, over the last month, as a result of extreme violence carried out by Islamist terrorists in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
According to a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the terrorist incursions also affected over 208,000 people.
The document says that the security situation was highly volatile in July, “especially in the districts of Chiúre, Macomia, Ancuabe, and Muidumbe, resulting in the deaths of at least 29 people.”
The organization also points out that there were 69 kidnappings, with ransom demands ranging from 10,000 to 300,000 meticais (150 to 4,600 dollars, at the current exchange rate).
“The number of recorded incidents increased from 72 in June to 82 in July. A significant shift was also observed in the geographic distribution of the violence, which expanded southward, to Ancuabe, and Chiúre (in Cabo Delgado), and Eráti (in the neighbouring province of Nampula)”, reads the report.
The insecurity forced the displacement of 56,215 people, who are now settled in two new camps based in the Macomia district capital, bringing the total number of camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) to six in that region.
According to the OCHA note, “attacks on civilians perpetrated by non-State armed groups (NSAGs) and armed clashes between NSAGs and Mozambique security forces have intensified in Chiúre, coastal Macomia and Muidumbe.”
“On 29 July, before leaving the village of Pangane (Mucojo district), armed groups placed Islamic State flags at the village entrances. On 12 July, they attacked and looted a passenger minibus and a cargo truck near Xitaxi (Muidumbe). At least nine similar incidents were reported during the month”, reads the document.
In response to the “increasing threats”, police resumed armed escorts between Macomia and the town of Oasse, in Mocímboa da Praia district, to ensure humanitarian access. But OCHA noted that “administrative delays continue to harm humanitarian operations.”
Meanwhile, renewed terrorist activity in Palma district, according to a report in the electronic newsheet “Mozambique Times”, has forced subcontractors working for the French company TotalEnergies to suspend some activities.
According to local sources, the subcontractors were warned that the security situation had recently deteriorated, and operations had been suspended. Workers remain confined within the TotalEnergies camp in the Afungi peninsula.
Insurgent movements were reported in communities such as Maputo Village (on the boundary between Palma and Mocímboa da Praia), Mute and Maganja, all located near the Afungi camp.
In these localities, terrorists looted food supplies and abducted six people, who were only released after paying ransoms ranging between 10,000 and 30,000 meticais.
Two members of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM), captured and killed by terrorists on 15 August, were part of the Afungi Special Operational Theatre (TOEA), set up to protect the Mozambique LNG (Liqufied Natural Gas) project operated by Total Energies.
The victims were intercepted while travelling on a motorbike driven by a moto-taxi operator, on the road between Pundanhar and Palma town, where they were headed on personal matters.
The moto-taxi driver was later released after paying a ransom, said a Palma resident who knows the victim. He did not disclose the amount paid. The motorbike, however, was stolen by the terrorists.
Three days later, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack through its propaganda channels, releasing photographs showing the two dead soldiers, the motorbike, and the military identification card of one of them.
The two soldiers were killed amid a resurgence of terrorist activity in southern Palma villages, the first since Mocímboa da Praia town was retaken in late 2021 by Mozambican and Rwandan forces.
This upsurge in terrorist activities may undermine the government’s plans to resume work at the Mozambique LNG plant in September. President Daniel Chapo announced this date during his visit to Japan last week. But the terrorist raids in Palma district could force a further delay.
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