From Paquetiquete to Mueda: Difficult days fleeing attacks – Carta

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From Paquetiquete to Mueda: Difficult days fleeing attacks – Carta

3:53 CAT | 20 Apr 2020

The violence in Cabo Delgado province is increasingly creating disorder in almost all districts, Carta de Moçambique reports.

According to residents of Pemba, Mueda, Palma, Macomia and Mocímboa da Praia, the scenario has deteriorated in that part of the country in the last few days, with scant respect for human rights on the part of either insurgents or military.

For example, the military entered Paquetiquete, one of Pemba’s historic neighbourhoods, which has been receiving people displaced from districts devastated by the “silent war” – or “sporadic incursions” according to the authorities – on Friday, and began indiscriminately whipping residents in the belief that among the IDPs are members of the terrorist group which has been carrying outs raids and beheadings, destroying public and private property and otherwise fomenting disorder in the province.

In Paquetiquete, the military has imposed a curfew from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., with anyone caught in breach detained or subjected to violence. According to ‘Carta’ sources, the situation is unsustainable, with citizens having nowhere to turn to, and the very police that should be protecting them, the same that is inflicting violence upon them.

With violence raging there, public officials and private companies have been leaving the districts. For example, a district government of Mueda circular (number 01/GDM/SD/900/2020) requires that all officials present themselves at their workplace this Monday or have their wages deducted.

Gov de #Mueda alertando os funcionários públicos locais, que abandonaram o distrito devido ao ambiente de medo e insegurança, para que se façam presente nos seus postos de trabalho a partir de segunda-feira ou terão sanções que afectem os seus salários. #CaboDelgado #Mocambique pic.twitter.com/26iHOnNZAb

— Alexandre (@AllexandreMZ) April 18, 2020

Residents of Macomia, Muidumbe, Mocímboa da Praia, Nangade and Mueda districts are without banking services, while public and private services there are generally operating at half speed. Some districts are described as ‘almost ghost towns’.

The situation in Cabo Delgado has come under several criticisms from civil society, including government cooperation partners.

Foto que nos chega de #Muidumbe ilustrando as condições deploráveis nas quais as pessoas se submetem quando se fazem às matas fugindo dos atacantes extremistas de #CaboDelgado. Que culpa temos? Até quando vivendo assim? Eles questionam… pic.twitter.com/tzRWEk2wtn

— Alexandre (@AllexandreMZ) April 20, 2020

In an interview with RTP África, the Bishop of Pemba, Dom Luiz Fernando Lisboa, described the situation as “heart-breaking”.

Meanwhile the president of the National Human Rights Commission, Luís Bitone, told Rádio Moçambique that he had demanded that authorities clarify the abduction, on 7 April, of journalist Ibraimo Abú Mbaruco.

By Omardine Omar with Carta de Moçambique newsroom

Source: Carta de Moçambique