Mozambique: Suspected terrorist killed in Ngangolo, Nangade district - Lusa
Mozambique: Reports of death and destruction in Palma – AIM report
5:26 CAT | 27 Mar 2021
Photo [modified]: Pinnacle News
Information from the town of Palma, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, remains sparse, since all phone communication was cut during the terrorist attack on Wednesday afternoon, but from the fragmentary reports reaching Maputo, it seems that shooting continued in the town sporadically until Friday.
A report on “Pinnacle News”, an Internet portal that has specialised in covering the Cabo Delgado war, claims that the terrorists, associated with the self-styled “Islamic State”, have set about two thirds of the town on fire. The bodies of dozens of civilians, some of them beheaded, are said to be lying in the streets.
The three banks in the town were assaulted, as was the local health centre. “Pinnacle News” also claims that the jihadists used heavy weaponry against government buildings.
According to the Portuguese news agency Lusa, about 180 people sought refuge in the Amarula hotel. Some of them were airlifted by helicopter to the nearby Afungi peninsula, where the French oil and gas company Total is building natural gas liquefaction plants.
The rest of those trapped in the hotel tried to make a break for it in a convoy of 17 vehicles. According to a report in the South African paper, the “Daily Maverick”, a South African citizen led the escape attempt, but the convoy fell into a terrorist ambush, in which three vehicles were destroyed and seven people killed.
The paper said that only seven vehicles could continue the journey, carrying 40 to 50 people. But some of these were also killed.
Other foreigners returned to the hotel, but fled again, when the terrorists broke in. They headed into the Palma bush, and some may have made their way to the beach in the hope of rescue by boat.
Also read: Convoy of fleeing civilians ambushed in besieged Mozambique town – Reuters
An unnamed security analyst, cited by the paper, said “These people didn’t need to die. The whole international community has to take responsibility for this. They had three days to respond and no one did”.
Lunga Ngqengelele, the spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation told the paper “I can confirm that we are aware of some of the South Africans that are in the situation in Mozambique. And through our mission (in Maputo) we are providing consular services, including finding ways to assist them to go back home, for those who are needing to go back home.”
The lack of communication makes it impossible to confirm the scattered details of events in Palma. The nearest journalists are in the provincial capital Pemba, and they have only been able to report on the anguish of people who have relatives in Palma and do not know whether they are alive or dead.
Since the Defence Ministry statement on Thursday morning confirming the attack, neither the government nor the military have released any further information.
Meanwhile the United States Embassy in Maputo issued a statement on Friday strongly condemning the attacks against Palma. The Embassy described them as “terrorist attacks”, and declared its “solidarity with the Palma community and the Mozambican Armed Forces working to re-establish peace and security”.
Spain condemns the terrorist attack that took place yesterday in the city of Palma, Cabo Delgado Province, #Mozambique. The Government declares its concern over the situation and is following its development in coordination w/ authorities of 🇲🇿, 🇺🇳 & 🇪🇺: https://t.co/MtVRxQo8llpic.twitter.com/3EhuzhyZHL
— Spain MFA (@SpainMFA) March 25, 2021
The Embassy added that it is “deeply concerned by the terrorists’ continued assaults against the residents of Cabo Delgado, who have suffered tremendously from the terrorists’ brutal and indiscriminate tactics”.
“The United States Government”, the statement said, “continues to monitor the situation and remains committed to working with the Government of Mozambique to counter violent extremism and ensure security and prosperity for all its citizens and residents”.
Also read: Spain condemns attack on Palma, Mozambique
Mozambique: Portugal condemns armed insurgence in northern territory
Source: AIM
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.