Mozambique: Residents of Macomia district, Cabo Delgado, report rebel movements

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Mozambique: Residents of Macomia district, Cabo Delgado, report rebel movements

3:58 CAT | 01 Apr 2024

Image: Google Maps

Residents of Macomia district, in the centre of Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado, on Monday reported what they said were movements of insurgent groups in agricultural production areas, spreading fear among locals.

Community sources in northern Mozambique told Lusa that a group of around 30 insurgents were seen early on Saturday afternoon in the Nambini forests, an agricultural production area.

“They passed through the forests of Nambini, there were many terrorists, heading towards Quissanga,” a local community source told Lusa, speaking from the district headquarters of Macomia.

The same source said that the passage of the rebels almost 30 kilometres from the district headquarters of Macomia precipitated the flight of some farmers: “There are people who fled from Nambini, because although they didn’t kill anyone, every caution is needed when it comes to terrorists”.

Another source said that this was not the first time that insurgents have passed through the Nambini forests on their way to Quissanga, a fact that has caused a stir among farmers.

“They always use that road in the direction of Quissanga; we’re not at ease,” the source lamented from Macomia.

Locals add that, if the situation continues, it could contribute to hunger in the communities, since Nambini is one of the areas of Macomia that brings together a significant number of local farmers and more.

“We’re just afraid of hunger,” warned another villager. “Nambini is one of the areas where a lot of people from Macomia and beyond are opening up fields.”

The district of Macomia is in the centre of Cabo Delgado province, 200 kilometres from the provincial capital, Pemba, and lies along the EN380 road, one of the few asphalted roads in the region.

After several months of relative normality in the districts affected by armed violence in Cabo Delgado, the province has seen new movements and attacks by rebel groups in the past weeks, limiting circulation to a few points on the few asphalted roads that give access to various districts.

Cabo Delgado province has been plagued by an armed insurgency for six years, with responsibility for many attacks claimed by local affiliates of the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency, which has flared up again since December with several attacks on the population and armed forces, has brought a military response since July 2021, with support first from Rwanda, with more than 2,000 troops, and then from the Southern African Development Community, liberating districts near the natural gas projects that the government views as key to economic development.

Source: Lusa