Mozambique: President Nyusi confirms terrorist attack on Macomia town

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Mozambique: President Nyusi confirms terrorist attack on Macomia town

1:57 CAT | 10 May 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Presidency of the Republic]

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, today confirmed the terrorist attack on the district headquarters of Macomia, in Cabo Delgado province, asserting that the Armed Defence and Security Forces (FADS) were responding.

“The terrorists, at around 04:00, were entering Macomia (…). They faced very strong resistance, it lasted almost 45 minutes with my young people [FADS soldiers]. And these are the ones that give me courage,” he said at a public ceremony in Maputo this morning.

“They resisted for 45 minutes and then withdrew. I think they organized themselves a little more, and 50 minutes later they came back,” he detailed, adding that at least one attacker was “captured”, armed and “shooting”.

He also explained that this morning’s attack took place in an area that was previously controlled by the SADC military mission, which is withdrawing progressively to a July deadline.

“It is true that one is an area occupied by our brothers who support us, in retreat. But those on the ground are 100% Mozambicans. Perhaps there could be reinforcement (…). How are they leaving? I hope we can organize ourselves better, because the transition time gives us that [time],” he acknowledged, while praising the ongoing intervention by the Mozambican military.

“They are responding positively. We were already predicting this,” Nyusi pointed out.

READ: Mozambique: Macomia district headquarters under rebel attack – Lusa report

The district headquarters town of Macomia in Cabo Delgado province has been under attack by a group of insurgents since early this morning (10-05), public sources told Lusa today.

Shooting at the district headquarters began around 4:00 a.m., with the rebels appearing in the centre of the town via the Mucojo road, sources reported.

“We are not doing well. The terrorists attacked after arriving at dawn, and I don’t know for sure whether anyone has died or not,” a source told Lusa from a hideout in Macomia.

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

“I’m saying that shooting is happening everywhere. The terrorists have occupied the entire town and haven’t left yet. We don’t know if this time they want to occupy [the town] or not,” the source reported.

Some stores selling basic necessities and vehicles used to transport passengers, goods and for commerce were abandoned by their owners.

“No one took anything – everything is abandoned. This time it was too much, because we were just starting over again,” a clothing merchant operating in the centre of Macomia told Lusa.

According to Integrity sources, the attack on the town of #Macomia is carried out by the same man who was seen in Calugo, #Mocimboa, last Wednesdayhttps://t.co/FzIksuvoHQ

— Cabo Delgado (@DelgadoCabo) May 10, 2024

The town of Macomia is located on National Road 1 (N1), which connects through to northern districts such as Muidumbe, Nangade, Mueda, Mocimboa da Praia and Palma. The attack therefore interrupts land communication to these five districts.

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

After several months of relative calm, new movements and attacks by rebels have since the beginning of the year again caused thousands of displacements, deaths and destruction of homes and public buildings.

Source: Lusa