Mozambique: Inhabitants denounce insurgents in Macomia with local backing

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Mozambique: Inhabitants denounce insurgents in Macomia with local backing

9:14 CAT | 09 Nov 2023

Image: Google Maps

Inhabitants from the administrative post of Mucojo, Macomia district, in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, on Wednesday denounced the alleged circulation of terrorists in local communities, in some cases with the protection of community members.

“The terrorists are still here among us. Every week at least, they visit one of the communities,” a source told Lusa from Mucojo.
According to the source, the terrorists go into the communities to buy basic necessities and use local fishermen’s boats as a means of transport.

“When they arrive in our communities, they buy everything and use our boats to transport their products,” he added.
Another local source told Lusa that when they arrive in the community, the terrorists appeal to the people not to leave their homes, assuring them that they mean no harm: “They always say they won’t harm us, but we’re afraid because someone who has killed and taken everything can’t be trusted.”

Despite the apparent atmosphere of security, the population of the district seat of Macomia, 40 kilometres from Mucojo, say they are insecure, and some traders have preferred to move their businesses to Pemba, fearing the evolution of the situation.

“I’ve been a trader for more than 10 years, but I don’t invest much in Macomia, now I have other projects in Pemba, I’m not sure yet,” explained one trader from Macomia.

The district of Macomia, in the centre of Cabo Delgado, borders the district of Muidumbe, across the Messalo River, along National Road 380, one of the few asphalted roads in the region, which connects the districts further north. Two crossings of the Messalo River have been interrupted since 2021 due to the actions of terrorists.

Cabo Delgado province has been facing an armed insurgency for six years, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency has led to a military response since July 2021 with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of attacks have emerged in the south of the region and in neighbouring Nampula province.

The conflict has already displaced a million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and caused around 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.

Source: Lusa