Mozambique: At least 51 homes, a church and a school destroyed in Memba district since late September – official

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Mozambique: At least 51 homes, a church and a school destroyed in Memba district since late September – official

8:27 CAT | 14 Oct 2025

Map showing Memba district headquarters in Nampula province, northern Mozambique [Source: Google Earth]

At least 51 houses, a church and a primary school have been destroyed in attacks attributed to terrorists since the end of September in the district of Memba, in the Mozambican province of Nampula, according to a new assessment made today by the local administrator.

According to Manuel Cintura, the attacks took place on 30 September and 3 October at the administrative posts of Lúrio and Chipene, resulting in the destruction and burning of 51 houses, compared to the initial assessment of 45, as well as a church and the structure of a local Complete Primary School (EPC), in addition to the burning of chairs from another educational institution in the same administrative post.

An administrative post is a territorial division below the district level, created to bring state services closer to the population and facilitate local participation. It functions as an administrative unit that can include several localities and, historically, was a subdivision of colonial territories before they became local municipalities. The post chief is responsible for its management.

“We had destruction, the burning of many homes, destruction of a church, complete destruction of a school, desks and another EPC in the administrative post of Chipene,” Cintura said in statements to journalists.

The administrator added that although some of the residents are returning to their areas of origin, many inhabitants continue to avoid sleeping in their own homes for fear of new attacks, which so far have not caused any fatalities in Nampula.

“The situation remains turbulent, the population is returning directly to their areas of origin, but some still do not sleep at home,” he said.

Manuel Cintura also acknowledged the presence of citizens from Memba among the armed groups that have been carrying out attacks in the north of the country, pointing to the historical links between the local population and fishing communities in areas previously occupied by insurgents in the neighbouring province of Cabo Delgado.

Almost 40,000 people have fled six regions of Cabo Delgado, and also the neighbouring province of Nampula, due to the resurgence of terrorist attacks in northern Mozambique, according to the latest report from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

According to the latest field report from that United Nations agency, between 22 September and 6 October, the escalation of attacks and insecurity caused by armed groups led to “new displacements” – a total of 39,643, equivalent to 12,335 families – mainly in the regions of Balama, Mocímboa da Praia, Montepuez and Chiúre, Cabo Delgado, but also in Memba, Nampula province.

The gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique has been the target of terrorist attacks for eight years, with the first attack recorded on 5 October 2017 in the region of Mocímboa da Praia.

Eight years after that first attack, the government said this week that it continues to make efforts to ensure the safety of the population and property so that these communities can remain in their places of origin in peace.

The global monitor Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) counts 6,257 deaths after eight years of terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado, warning of the current instability with the resurgence of violence.

Source: Lusa