Mozambique: One rebel killed as troops repel attack on Macomia – government

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Mozambique: One rebel killed as troops repel attack on Macomia – government

6:57 CAT | 10 May 2024

File photo: VOA

The Mozambican ministry of national defence confirmed a “terrorist attack” early this Friday morning in the town of Macomia, Cabo Delgado, guaranteeing that one of the group’s leaders was wounded by the Mozambique armed forces (FADM) and another killed.

“The attack lasted around 45 minutes and the terrorists were promptly repelled by the coordinated action of our forces, which forced the enemy to retreat towards the interior of the Mucojo administrative post,” reads a statement from the ministry of defence.

The same information states that the attack took place at around 04:45 local time; During the “confrontation”, the FADM “captured a terrorist and wounded one of the leaders, known as ‘Issa’, who managed to escape, with no deaths or injuries reported by the Armed Forces,” the statement adds.

“Subsequently, the captured terrorist lost his life as a result of serious injuries,” it reads, adding that “at the moment, actions are continuing to pursue and annihilate the remaining enemy forces.”

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, had already confirmed the attack on the Macomia district headquarters in Cabo Delgado at the end of the morning.

“They put up a very strong resistance, it lasted almost 45 minutes with my young men [FADM soldiers]. And those are the ones who give me courage,” he said during an event in Maputo.

“We resisted for 45 minutes and they left. I think they organised themselves a bit more, 50 minutes later they came back,” he said, adding that at least one attacker was “captured”, armed and “shooting”.

Nyusi explained that the attack this morning took place in an area that was previously controlled by the military of the southern African countries’ mission, which is in progressive withdrawal until July.

“It’s true that it’s an area occupied by our brothers who support us, who are withdrawing. But those on the ground are 100% Mozambicans. Perhaps there could be a reinforcement (…). As they’re leaving. I hope we manage to organise ourselves better, because the time of transition allows that,” he acknowledged, praising the ongoing intervention of the Mozambican military.

“They’re responding positively. We expected that,” he said.

The shootings at the district headquarters began in the early hours of the morning, with the rebels appearing in the centre of the town from the Mucojo road, local sources reported.

“We’re not doing well, the terrorists are attacking, they arrived at dawn and I’m not sure if anyone died or not,” a source told Lusa from a hiding place in Macomia.

The same sources indicated that the entire district headquarters town of Macomia was overrun by more than a hundred insurgents.

“I’m telling you that shooting is happening everywhere, the terrorists have taken over the whole town and still haven’t left, we don’t know if this is the time they want to take it over or not,” the source said.

In the early morning, some shops selling basic necessities and cars transporting passengers, goods and commerce were abandoned by their owners out of fear.

“Nobody took anything, everything is abandoned, this time it was too much because we were already getting started again,” a clothes trader in the centre of Macomia lamented to Lusa.

The town of Macomia is located on the National Road 1 (N1), which connects to the districts further north, such as Muidumbe, Nangade, Mueda, Mocimboa da Praia and Palma, so this attack also interrupts communication by land to the five districts.

The province has been facing an armed rebellion since October 2017, with attacks claimed by movements associated with the extremist group Islamic State.

After several months of relative calm, since the beginning of the year new rebel movements and attacks have once again caused thousands of displaced people, deaths and the destruction of homes and public buildings.

Source: Lusa