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DW / Fish market in Mocímboa
The Cabo Delgado provincial government, in northern Mozambique, has finally admitted that the attacks on police units in Mocimboa da Praia district on 5-6 October were the work of islamic fundamentalists, a term which the central government still avoids using.
According to a report in the Beira daily “Diario de Mocambique”, the term appears in a joint press statement from the provincial government and the Islamic Council of Mozambique, issued by the Provincial Directorate of Justice and Constitutional and Religious Matters after a meeting in the provincial capital, Pemba, held to reflect on the Mocimboa da Praia events.
With the purpose of sharing information on the attacks in Mocimboa da Praia, which also spilled over into the neighbouring district of Palma, the meeting also served to define strategies for fighting fundamentalism and ensuring that it does not spread to other parts of Cabo Delgado or of the country.
The government and the Islamic Council reiterated the “excellent” historical ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the liberation movement and the Islamic community, dating from the time of the war for the country’s independence from Portuguese colonial rule, and which have allowed today’s integration of moslems into the country’s social and economic development.
The Islamic Council declared once again its repudiation of the attacks perpetrated by fundamentalists against police units, and promised to collaborate with the government in vigilance and in denouncing any insurgents.
The document adds that the authorities and the Islamic Council believe that the appearance of Islamic fundamentalism in Mozambique is intended to undermine the peaceful coexistence between moslems and people of other beliefs, and to hinder the development of the country.
It was the consensus of the Pemba meeting that from now on the Islamic Council will give its opinion to the authorities about any Islamic group that wishes to enter and operate in Mozambique.
The meeting stressed the need for collaboration between the police and religious and community leaders to avoid any further illegalities, and for the urgent spread of technical education establishments, and religious schools, into areas affected by fundamentalism, in order to promote notions of citizenship among young people.
Meanwhile, sporadic acts of violence are still occurring in Mocimboa da Praia. According to a report in the independent daily “O Pais”, unknown assailants on Wednesday murdered Selemane Sumail, the secretary of the municipal neighbourhood of Nanchamele, in Mocimboa da Praia town.
According to sources who requested anonymity, five men, armed with knives and similar weapons, broke into Sumail’s house and murdered him. His funeral was held on Thursday afternoon.
The mayor of Mocimboa da Praia, Fernando Neves, confirmed the murder, but gave no further details.
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