Armed men expand attacks to centre of Cabo Delgado – report

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Armed men expand attacks to centre of Cabo Delgado – report

9:55 CAT | 27 Mar 2019

After terrorising the populations of northern Cabo Delgado, where some villages in the districts of Palma and Mocímboa da Praia are completely abandoned, insurgents have now turned their attention to the central part of the province, with armed attacks daily in full light of the day, O País reports.

In addition to intensifying attacks in Macomia, where assaults on passenger vehicles travelling to Mucojo administrative post are now frequent, the armed group has this month moved to the district of Meluco, and has been active along the N380 road, the main access road linking the northern area of Cabo Delgado.

Witnesses confirmed four attacks in just one week to O País: three in Macomia, where on March 20, 21 and 23 they attacked, respectively, a passenger car, a village in Mucojo, and a raid on Bangala 2 village on the road between Pemba and Macomia.

A day later, on Sunday, according to the sources, the insurgents attacked Iba village in Meluco district and murdered two civilians, a man and a woman, and then headed toward Cajembe, in the neighbouring district of Quissanga.

Despite the strong military presence in Macomia, the inhabitants of some villages in the central part of the province are not sleeping in the villages at night, but leave their homes with their families and congregate in another place until sunrise, armed with spears and bows and arrows to withstand any attack.

The armed attacks in Cabo Delgado began in October 2017, and thousands of displaced people have already left homes, property and agricultural fields to settle in towns and cities considered relatively safe.

By Hizidine Achá

Source: O País