At least 20 killed in attacks at Mozambique province: NGO
Soldiers from the Mozambican army patrol Mocimboa da Praia, Mozambique, on March 7, 2018, following an attack by suspected Islamists.
What you need to know:
- Cabo Delgado boasts of gold, tourmaline and many other minerals, and multinationals Exxon Mobil and Total engage in oil and natural gas projects there.
- The Mozambique government and the UN say at least 300,000 have been displaced due to conflict in Cabo Delgado and that between 1,000 and 2,000 people have been killed.
At least 20 people were killed in fresh attacks in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, an NGO said Sunday in a report.
Located about 1,663 kilometres north of the capital Maputo, Cabo Delgado boasts of gold, tourmaline and many other minerals, and multinationals Exxon Mobil and Total engage in oil and natural gas projects there.
The province, which is 77,887 square kilometres big, has a population of 1,800,196 and 16 districts.
Since October 2017, violence has spread there, leaving in its wake some 1,500 people dead and 250,000 displaced.
The province which borders Tanzania has been the scene of an Islamist insurgency. Mozambique has been battling the rebellion since 2017, by a group calling itself Al-Shabaab.
The insurgents have been attacking villages and members of the security forces, and reports show they may include foreign fighters from as far as Tanzania and Kenya.
No aid
According to the Development and Democracy Centre (CDD), villages in Macomia district were hit by terrorist attacks over the last few weeks, with at least 20 people assassinated, dozens of houses burned down and products stolen”.
Humanitarian assistance does not reach the province and hunger and diseases such as diarrhoea have also killed 10 people in Matemo Island.
“Between September 30 and October 8, a group of terrorists occupied Mucojo administrative post and from this point they made incursions to Naunde, Darumba, Manica, Rueia, Goludo, Pangane, Nambo, Messano, Runho, Muituiro Villages and Mais Island”, CDD says in the report.
At least two of the victims were members of the government forces and were killed at the Pangane commercial point.
On Saturday alone, CDD added, about 20 vessels carrying hundreds of displaced people who fled attacks in Mucojo, Macomia district, have reached Cabo Delgado capital Pemba city.
The Mozambique government and the UN say at least 300,000 have been displaced due to conflict in Cabo Delgado and that between 1,000 and 2,000 people have been killed.
