US Assistant Secretary of State worried by Cabo Delgado – AIM

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US Assistant Secretary of State worried by Cabo Delgado – AIM

4:39 CAT | 07 May 2020

Photos: Gorongosa News

The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, on Wednesday claimed that the United States is worried about the islamist attacks in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, and is committed to a response that will halt the rise in violence.

“The insurgency in northern Mozambique is a matter of great concern”, said Nagy. “It has grown from a small group to a much larger movement over the last year or year and a half. We hope that Mozambique will give this its full attention and in a systematic way”.

Nagy was speaking from Washington, during a telephone briefing with reporters centred on the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa. But, cited in today’s issue of the independent newsheeet “Mediafax”, he also dwelt on problems of terrorism.

Nagy compared the attacks by armed islamists in Cabo Delgado with the rise of the extremist group Boko Haram, in Nigeria.

“Boko Haram was initially just a small movement”, he said. “Because of the way the Nigerian government responded to it initially, it grew and became a very serious threat, not only to the northeast of Nigeria, but also to the neighbouring countries”.

The US wanted no repetition of Boko Haram in Mozambique. “Our embassy in Maputo, with some partners, is fully committed to discussing with the Mozambican authorities the best way of responding to this insurgency and prevent it from turning into what Boko Haram became in Nigeria”.

The islamist insurgency began with attacks on police premises in Mocimboa da Praia district on 5 October 2017, and then spread to other districts in the northern part of Cabo Delgado. The civilian death toll in these attacks is believed to be at least 500.

In recent months, the international terrorist organisation Islamic State (or ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the Cabo Delgado attacks. In late March when the insurgents briefly seized the towns of Mocimboa da Praia and Quissanga, they hoisted the black flag of Islamic State. One of the terrorists was recorded making a speech promising the implementation of sharia law and the establishment of an islamic state in Mozambique.

A government counter-offensive has re-established control over Quissanga district. The terrorists had disrupted communications in Quissanga and with the Quirimbas archipelago off the coast, but one of the country’s three mobile phone companies, Tmcel, announced on Wednesday that it has re-established phone communications with Quissanga and with the archipelago.

Source: AIM