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Mozambique: Fuel vendors flee country after terror financing allegations – Lusa
4:33 CAT | 03 Sep 2022
Map: RM
Authorities in Sofala province, central Mozambique, said on Friday that foreign owners of petrol stations have left the country following accusations that some operators in this sector are involved in financing terrorism.
On 22 August, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi denounced the existence of owners of petrol stations in Sofala province who use their business for money laundering and financing terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
“There is proliferation of fuel pumps in your province, I am not prohibiting it. But that you use legal methods […]. We have information about people who use these means to subsidise terrorism,” the Mozambican head of state said.
Following these accusations, the Secretary of State for Sofala province, Stella Pinto Zeca, told the media yesterday that some foreign businessmen in the sector have left Mozambique for unknown reasons.
“There are indications that some of them have fled,” Pinto Zeca said.
She said that the authorities were investigating the reasons that led the businesspeople to leave the country.
The Secretary of State for Sofala province warned against the risk of generalising suspicions of sponsorship of violent extremism, noting that the President’s accusations were aimed at some owners of petrol stations and not all operators in the sector.
“There is a tendency to generalise” because petrol stations appear “so easily” and are “making profits”.
The majority of businessmen, she continued, are partners in the social and economic development of Mozambique and cannot be victims of unfounded suspicion.
READ: Mozambique: Fuel pump owners surprised at charges they aid terrorists
The issue of funding for terrorism in Mozambique is gaining prominence in the country due to the activities of armed groups associated to extremism that carry out attacks in Cabo Delgado province, in the north of the country.
The province of Cabo Delgado is rich in natural gas, but terrorised since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
There are about 800,000 internally displaced people due to the conflict, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and about 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.
It is estimated that half of the affected population are children and young people up to the age of 20, reflecting the country’s age pyramid.
READ: Mozambique: Terrorism was unleashed “by enemies of Frelimo” – Watch
Source: Lusa
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