Mozambique: Insurgents kill, kidnap children in Cabo Delgado

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Mozambique: Insurgents kill, kidnap children in Cabo Delgado

2:41 CAT | 31 Jan 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: @DelgadoCabo/X]

One dead and at least seven children kidnapped is the result of the latest attack attributed to alleged terrorists in the district of Mocímboa da Praia, in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, local sources told Lusa on Friday.

According to the same sources, the attack occurred on Thursday in the village of Mumu, more than 30 kilometres from the Mocímboa da Praia district headquarters, after the alleged group of terrorists attacked the community.

“They were in a larger group, they started shooting and killed one of our brothers and took other people, most of them children”, said a local source.

After the attack, the community of Mumu informed the Local Force, which began patrolling the area to try to contain the rebels’ attacks.

“The Local Force is with us, we will see if anything improves”, said another source.

Some farmers also say they are afraid, since the group of alleged terrorists is still in the woods.

“If this continues, we risk having to abandon our ‘machambas’ [agricultural fields],” another source said.

Since October 2017, the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed rebellion with attacks claimed by movements associated with the extremist group Islamic State.

The Rwandan Security Forces (RSF) will deploy a new contingent to support the fight against terrorist groups in Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, according to Rwandan authorities.

According to information from the Rwandan Ministry of Defence, Major General Wilson Gumisiriza, commander of the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) Mechanised Infantry Division, on Thursday “briefed the Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) contingent ahead of their deployment to Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique”.

“The briefing, held at Kami Military Barracks in Kigali, included members of the RDF [Rwanda Defence Forces] and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) as they prepare for their mission, based on bilateral arrangements between Rwanda and Mozambique,” the same information states, without providing further information on the contingent to be deployed.

#Mocímboa da praia: UIR agents arrest family member of one of the seven children kidnapped by insurgents last weekhttps://t.co/bUU2Rz43pb https://t.co/0bTHDwzHK5 pic.twitter.com/3BTYw1lUpY

— Cabo Delgado (@DelgadoCabo) January 31, 2025