Mayor says “no government infrastructure” in operation in Mocímboa

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Mayor says “no government infrastructure” in operation in Mocímboa

1:40 CAT | 08 Jul 2020

Mocímboa da Praia hospital, after the attack. [Photo: Pinnacle News]

The mayor of Mocímboa da Praia said yesterday that there was no government infrastructure in operation in the district capital, post its three-days occupation the by insurgents who have been carrying out attacks in Cabo Delgado.

“There is no service being performed there, everything has stopped. Of the government’s own infrastructures, none survived. We don’t have any government infrastructure in operation,” Carlos Momba said, quoted on Tuesday by STV.

Insurgents invaded the town on June 27 and occupied it for three days, destroying infrastructure and leaving an unknown number dead.

At least nine people died in the attack, including eight workers from a construction company subcontracted to the gas megaproject advancing in the region and a commander of the Mozambican Armed Defence Forces unit in Mocimboa.

“But now everything is in the hands of our force, the town is already under control,” said Carlos Momba, who is currently also outside of Mocímboa

Local sources interrogated yesterday by Lusa describe ongoing fear among the local population, despite assurances that the Defence and Security Forces had regained control of the situation.

“The information is that they [the insurgents] do not want anyone else in the town, they want to occupy it. I am now in Pemba. I’m thinking of going back just to get my things, but transport is very expensive,” one displaced person told Lusa.

Another source from a religious mission in Mocímboa da Praia told Lusa that this was the worst attack the town had ever suffered, and that there were still bodies of victims on the streets on Wednesday.

“There were people killed in every neighbourhood. The population is now scared and many are leaving Mocímboa da Praia,” the source said, adding that only the most disadvantaged remained, because they have no other option.

“There is no commerce of any type – all the shops have been looted,” the same source reports.

Mocímboa da Praia, located just 70 kilometres south of the natural gas project spearheaded by French oil major Total, is one of the main towns in the province.

Authorities have yet to comment on last week’s attack on Mocímboa da Praia, the latest in a series of terrorist incursions of increasing violence since March, claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

After clashes with the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) of Mozambique, which destroyed infrastructure and constrained energy and communications, information is emerging only in dribs and drabs.

The armed violence of the past two and a half years has already caused the death of at least 700 people and a humanitarian crisis that affects about 211,000 residents.

The United Nations launched, in early June, a US$3 million (€30 million) appeal to the international community for a Rapid Response Plan for Cabo Delgado to be implemented from May to December.

Source: Lusa