Mozambique: Pemba residents fear an attack – O País

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Mozambique: Pemba residents fear an attack – O País

3:16 CAT | 20 Apr 2021

Photo: O País

The majority of Pemba residents fear a terrorist attack on the Cabo Delgado capital in the course of the evolving situation there, seeing no end to the conflict which caused at least 2,000 death and displaced more than 700,000 in less than four years.

“I am afraid. Almost every day we hear about attacks, deaths and horrors. Even today, people are concentrated here in Pemba, unable to return to their homes because of the war. For example, I received seven families from Quissanga some time ago, and they still do not know when they will return home,” Abdul Age, a young Pemba native, said.

There is fear and panic throughout the province, but the situation is considered most serious in Pemba Bay which, according to alleged warnings on social media after the attack on Palma, would be the next target of the armed groups active in Cabo Delgado since 2017.

The Police of the Republic of Mozambique have classified the rumours as a false alarm.

Some people are apprehensive because of alleged threats of an attack on Pemba, while others feel insecure because of the terrorists’ resistance and the expansion of their sphere of operations.

“I am afraid, because the situation is progressing and, with each passing day, it seems to be getting closer and closer to the city. If things continue like this, there is no doubt that they will enter Pemba,” said Januário Celestino, who has been living in Pemba for decades.

Security seems to be guaranteed. Life goes on normally, at least in the city, although most of the resident are fearful. The less courageous are preparing to leave the province in order to avoid a direct encounter with the terrorists.

“I am thinking of leaving Pemba for Nampula, for fear of the Al Shabaabs. When they arrive somewhere, they do not discriminate between a woman, a man, a child, an old man, a pregnant woman, or whatever,” Assina Assamo said.

But while some leave the city and province, others are not at all fearful, and see no danger of Pemba Bay coming under attack.

“I am not afraid at all. I live in peace, because it seems to me that Pemba is safe, and they could only attack the city with a large army,” said Juma Abubacar, an elderly man born in Mecufi district, who has lived in Pemba for almost half a century.

Other people are not afraid and refuse to leave the city, considering the situation normal in a war, and preferring to wait for the end of terrorism at home.

“I am not afraid and I will not abandon my land,” said Henriques Timba. “The terrorists who came from who knows where are the ones who should get out. Where am I going to flee to, and why?”

A retired civil servant, Timba is one of the few residents of Pemba Bay who is not thinking about leaving his home and family, and who hopes for a better future.

“I survived the settler’s war that ended in Lusaka, the 16-year war that ended in Rome, and I’m sure, we will find a place to resolve this one of terrorism, because everything has its end,” he concludes.

Since the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado began in 2017, the armed group has raided five of the 17 district headquarters: Mocímboa da Praia, Quissanga, Muidumbe, Macomia and Palma. The first two have yet to be fully retaken by Mozambican state forces.

By Hizidine Achá

Source: O País