Military kill suspected members of armed group in Cabo Delgado forest

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Military kill suspected members of armed group in Cabo Delgado forest

1:53 CAT | 31 Aug 2018

Mozambique’s Defence and Security Forces have shot and killed members of an armed group in the forests of northern Cape Delgado, a source at the Mozambican authorities told Lusa on Monday.

An undetermined number of deaths resulted from an exchange of fire, which took place near Naneia, on the border between Mocímboa da Praia and Nangade districts, at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

The clash happened as security forces patrolling the forest encountered a hostile armed group suspected of being members of the groups that have attacked isolated villages in the region, said the same source.

Some military personnel suffered minor injuries and are being treated at Mocímboa da Praia rural hospital.

Remote settlements in Cabo Delgado, 1,500 to 2,000 kilometres north of Maputo, have been attacked by unknown assailants since October 2017, causing dozens of deaths and the displacement of much larger numbers of people.

The groups attacking the villages have never claimed responsibility or stated their agenda, but investigators suggest that the violence could be linked to heroin, ivory, ruby and wood trafficking networks.

The attacks come as investments by natural gas oil companies in the region are rolling out, but have not as yet impinged on these projects.

Source: Lusa