Mozambique: Xai-Xai water supply disrupted
Mozambique: Quirimba attack and response; South African helicopter gunships in Cabo Delgado; Retaliation in Mitenda; & more ‘News Reports and Clippings’ – by Joseph Hanlon
8:24 CAT | 11 Apr 2020
Map: Twitter
- Attack on Quirimba Island; helicopter down – reports
Insurgents in small boats reportedly landed on Thursday night (9 April) on Quirimba Island just off the coast of Quissanga; South African private military forces responded and one of their helicopters was allegedly shot down yesterday morning (Friday 10 Apr) although the crew was rescued. (Moz24h, Zitamar 10 Feb)
Mozambique
New facts: the word “shot down” has to be qualified: The chopper’s gearbox was damaged to the extent that an emergency landing was required. https://t.co/y4ER2rjE8v— Jasmine Opperman (@Jasminechic00) April 10, 2020
For maps of the Cabo Delgado war zone, see https://bit.ly/Mozam-479.
The map above shows the more detailed area. In the past month, insurgents have moved south from Macomia through Bilibiza (which they reoccupied on Tuesday) and then Quissanga, and have now made the 7 km water crossing to Quirimba Island.
Many people fled Quissanga before the attacks there, and were refugees on Quirimba.
Pinnacle News (https://www.facebook.com/pinnaclenews79) says the insurgents destroyed some government installations but left after the South African attack.
Mozambique:
Reports just received indicating that insurgents were attempting an attack at Quirimba island (using vessels disguised as fishing boats). It was during this attempt that response came from PMC. pic.twitter.com/kUUXKVfnVS— Jasmine Opperman (@Jasminechic00) April 10, 2020
Reports of combat since dawn today in #Quirimbas between #Mocambique security forces – presumably including the South African helicopter teams contracted to police – and jihadists. https://t.co/7fECwrZXDx
— Julian Rademeyer (@julianrademeyer) April 10, 2020
#Terrorists attacked #Quirimbas island today. This is 24 hours after they have attacked Muambala, in #Muidumbe district, targeting the historic #Catholic mission of #Nangololo. On terminology, I have moved From #insurgents to #terrorists. @CDD_Moz @zenaidamz @TamukaKagoro77 pic.twitter.com/hqzz8LvARD
— Prof. Adriano Nuvunga, Ph.D. (@adriano_nuvunga) April 10, 2020
- South African helicopter gunships in Cabo Delgado
Light helicopter gunships strafed a base of the insurgents in Mueda area on Wednesday and then attacked their bases in Mbau in Mocimboa da Praia and in Muidumbe on Thursday, according to Peter Fabricius in Daily Maverick (9 April, bit.ly/Fabricius-9Apr) The attacks did not include ground forces although these might follow later.
A Gazelle gunship and a Cessna Caravan fixed-wing personnel carrier arrived in Pemba last weekend. On Wednesday they were joined by three helicopters – another Gazelle gunship, a Bell UH I “Huey” and a Bell 406 Long Ranger – and one fixed-wing Diamond DA42.
The attacks were carried out by the South African private security company Dyck Advisory Group, according to Daily Maverick. Moz24h reports that they are based at the Pemba Naval Base and were involved in the attack on Quirimba invaders Friday morning. Pinnacle News says that it was one of the Gazelles which was shot down, and that at least one insurgent boat was sunk.
“Gunship” means a man sitting at the door of the helicopter with a heavy machine gun.
‘SA private military contractors’ and Mozambican airforce conduct major air attacks on Islamist extremistshttps://t.co/nwMxJMKIqU
— Jasmine Opperman (@Jasminechic00) April 10, 2020
South African private military contractors on their way to the battle against ISIS fighters in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique in SA-342 Gazelle helicopters. pic.twitter.com/VR8AsbJM7g
— Geopolog (@Geopolog) April 10, 2020
Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) replaces the Russian Wagner Group which withdrew, defeated, last month. According to Daily Maverick DAG is “owned by former Zimbabwean military colonel Lionel Dyck who is believed to be close to Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa.” Lionel Dyck was involved in Zanu-PF politics and various projects from 2002 to have Mnangagwa replace Robert Mugabe. Max Dyke is part of the group, and according to its website (https://www.dyckadvisorygroup.com/) was a guide on the Zambezi River and was involved in demining in Mozambique in 1997. Their website says DAG has “undertaken security-based operations” in Mozambique and has “counter poaching operations … currently running in Mozambique”. Zitamar (10 Apr) says Dyke helped Mozambique take Renamo’s Gorongosa base in 1985.
Private military companies have joined the fight against insurgents in Cabo Delgado, though the basis for their involvement remains unclearhttps://t.co/ifc8lGUvEx
— Zitamar News (@ZitamarNews) April 10, 2020
- Militarisation of Cabo Delgado
Local media reported that in many districts of Cabo Delgado impacted by the insurgency, civilian officials have recently been replaced by military officers as the security situation has deteriorated, according to Intelyse (9 Apr). In Pemba, nervous police and military have imposed an unofficial 19h00 curfew. Tension is increasing because of the failure of the military to challenge the insurgency, and rumours have raced through Pemba in recent days that it will be attacked by the insurgents.
Tactical comment: Although insurgents have attacked district towns, they probably do not have the capacity to attack a city. They do seem to be often using Renamo tactics; during the 1980s war Renamo had Beira surrounded but attacks were mainly on electricity lines and water supply pipes outside the city, in rural areas harder to guard. Initially, a similar action would seem more likely than a frontal attack on the city.
- Battle and massacre?
Savana yesterday (10 April) reports an insurgent defeat and massacre not reported or verified elsewhere.
The Macondis from Mueda were a key part of the guerrillas fighting for independence 50 years ago and still represent a militant force.
Savana says that faced with the failure of the army and police to stop the insurgent attacks in Muidumbe district earlier this week and their move toward Mueda, war veterans (and presumably their children) confronted the insurgents in a blind valley near Mitenda, and killed 30 insurgents.
Pinnacle News (https://www.facebook.com/pinnaclenews79) suggests that South African helicopters may have been part of the attack on the insurgents.
Savana says that in retaliation, in their occupation of Xitaxi village on Wednesday, insurgents decapitated and machine-gunning local people, killing 50-70.
Xitaxi is on the main N380 road.
None of this is independently confirmed, and Zitamar (10 Apr) says only 14 were killed in Xitaxi.
- Military detains Palma journalist
Journalist and announcer of Palma Community Radio, Ibraimo Abu Mbaruco. disappeared Tuesday 7 April on his way home from work, just after sending an SMS to a colleague saying he was surrounded by soldiers.
Nothing has been heard from him since, and he cannot be located.
Worrying — a community radio journalist in Palma, Cabo Delgado, has gone missing. Suspicions that he’s been abducted by state forces. https://t.co/Dy2sKUZmlk
— Tom Bowker (@TomBowk) April 9, 2020
The local chapter of the MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) could not locate him, and issued a statement this afternoon expressing concern.
Comment: The crackdown on formal news coverage in Cabo Delgado at the same time that there is widespread social media reporting – with inaccuracies and fake news – makes it very difficult to confirm what is happening in the civil war.
I call this newsletter News Reports and Clippings because that is what it is – a compilation of news reports – with my own judgements and commentaries.
For that reason I try to always give sources and make some judgements as to what is verifiable. But this becomes increasingly difficult in Cabo Delgado. Were 14 or 70 killed in Xitaxi? So I apologise for the inevitable errors. I try.
By Joseph Hanlon
.@EebenBarlow says claims that his private military company, STTEP, has deployed a “fighting force” against IS militants in northern Mozambique are false pic.twitter.com/jmZU1kDXCZ
— Julian Rademeyer (@julianrademeyer) April 9, 2020
Source: News reports & clippings
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