Mozambique: Mocímboa da Praia occupied – By Joseph Hanlon

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Mozambique: Mocímboa da Praia occupied – By Joseph Hanlon

9:40 CAT | 24 Mar 2020

Photo: Twitter

Mocimboa da Praia was occupied by insurgents yesterday morning (Monday 23 March) and at 18h00 yesterday afternoon was still under their control with no military response, report Estacio Valoi and Nazira Suleimane of Moz24Horas. https://www.moz24h.co.mz/

Day 2 of the occupation of #Mocimboa da Praia #CaboDelgado by insurgents. There is no news as all phone lines have been cut. Some rumor circulates they intend to stay three days – one more than in their initial attack in 2017. pic.twitter.com/PKQIAl2bht

— Eric Morier-Genoud (@emorier) March 24, 2020

In two press conferences yesterday, the spokesperson for the General Command of the Mozambican police, Orlando Mudumane, confirmed the attack. He told reporters in Maputo that the insurgents had attacked and occupied the barracks of the defence forces, where they hoisted their black flag.

ALSO READ: Mozambique: Terrorists occupy Mocímboa da Praia town – Watch

Apparently senior and more experienced officials had recently moved to the main base in Mueda, leaving newly arrived officials in charge in Mocimboa. The police commander Bernardino Rafael made a flying visit with press last Monday (16 March) to show the press everything was in control. President Nyusi visited Mueda on 13 March. (AIM, @Verdade, O Pais, 23 Mar; CDD 22 Mar) The town of Mocimboa da Praia was occupied for a day in the first action of the civil war, on 5 October 2017.

ALSO READ: Mozambique: Police commander calls for vigilance – AIM

Mozambique: “We are going through terror and fear, hidden in our homes” – sources in Mocímboa da Praia

Insurgents apparently arrived by both sea and land, and also attacked the police station, freeing prisoners. Houses have been burned and a school and other infrastructure destroyed. Dozens of people have fled in panic to the local hospital and mosques, assuming them to be safer. The invaders have built barricades on the main roads leading into the town, which they control.

By Joseph Hanlon