Mozambique: Terrorists kill six in Mocimboa da Praia – AIM

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Terrorists kill six in Mocimboa da Praia – AIM

7:45 CAT | 09 Sep 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]

Islamist terrorists murdered six people on Sunday night in an attack against Mocimboa da Praia town, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

According to a report in Monday’s issue of the electronic newssheet, the “Mozambique Times”, the Mocimboa da Praia district administrator, Sergio Cipriano, has confirmed the attack, and claimed that the defence and security forces are pursuing the raiders.

Mocimboa da Praia was the scene of the first attack by the Jihadists in October 2017. There were further attacks against the town in March, June and August 2020. In the last attack the islamists remained in control of the town for a year, before they were expelled by Rwandan forces in August 2021.

Since then, the town has been relatively secure, guarded by Mozambican and Rwandan troops. This relative calm was shattered by the Sunday night attack.

A military source told “Mozambique Times” that “the enemy is on our doorstep” but added that the prompt intervention of the Defence and Security Forces prevented the raiders from entering the town centre.

According to local residents, the insurgents’ action began at around 23.00 on Sunday and continued into the small hours of Monday morning.

“There were two bursts of intense gunfire. At this moment (01.00 on Monday morning), things are calmer, but earlier, everyone had fled their homes. Some are hiding in the bush,” one resident said.

“We were sleeping when the child woke us up, saying there was war. We heard heavy gunfire, and that’s why we are outside,” reported a resident of the Nanduadua neighbourhood.

The same source said that, on Saturday, jihadists had clashed with members of the Local Force militia in the Diaca administrative post. During the exchange of fire, in which they also suffered an unknown number of casualties, the insurgents killed a member of the Local Force.

According to “Mozambique Times”, the southern zone of Mocímboa da Praia district “remains vulnerable to insurgent movements. It serves as a strategic base for launching incursions both southward and northward, particularly towards the islands at the mouth of the Messalo River”.

Last week, residents reported insurgent movements in an area between Oasse locality and Mocímboa da Praia town, as well as recent attacks against villages in Palma district, which borders Mocímboa da Praia.

They said they would return on the 5th of next month. The residents who had fled into the forests returned this morning… pic.twitter.com/kRuc2ePuF6

— Cabo Delgado (@DelgadoCabo) September 8, 2025

This date is not insignificant for the insurgents. Almost eight years ago, on October 5, 2017, these men attacked police stations in Mocimboa da Praia to steal weapons before returning to the forests. This is how the armed insurrection in Cabo Delgado began… https://t.co/jcy0jJeuqN pic.twitter.com/nLklGVwi2B

— Cabo Delgado (@DelgadoCabo) September 8, 2025