The Islamic States branch in South of East Africa ISCAP, conducted a 5 day terror attack in Palma, North East of Mozambique, killing several dozens of civilians and foreigners. The terrorists killed tourists, burnt down a hotel, and blocked the sea routes blocking rescue missions. The Palma beach and Coast Line is littered with dead bodies. The magnitude of the attack is genocidal and the humanitarian crisis keeps getting worse with no solution in sight.
The terrorists began their attack on 24TH March when they infiltrated the town of Palma by inserting fighters. Insertions help combatants provide intelligence to the main attackers about the security, and logistical architecture of the target. Intelligence reports show approximately 120 militants were involved in the large scale attack.
On Thursday the 25th, the terrorists orchestrated the attack beheading unspecified number of innocent civilians residing in the coastal tourist town. They sieged Amarula Hotel where approximately 190 expatriates were taking refuge awaiting evacuation due to the collapse of security in the Afungi LNG area where Total has a concession. 2 dozens of these expatriates were evacuated by DNG Private Military Contractors using gunship helicopters.
By 26th March, a Friday, the terrorists captured the Palma Beach subsequently cutting off any seaborne counter terrorism operation and possible evacuation besides any form of intervention. Evacuation by road was also significantly disrupted after the group intercepted a convoy of 17 vehicles and destroyed 10 of them using RPG fire in the nighttime ambush. The terrorists ten burnt down the Amarula hotel, a typical Jihadist signature meant to symbolize the religious objective of the attack.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, the group was still in control of the coastal town though about 2000 persons were rescued between the two days. Private Security personnel supported by civilians managed to conduct some seaborne rescue missions.
Over 4000 persons have been killed by the jihadists since 2017. The jihadists continue to demonstrate they are capable of adapting and morphing thus making them dynamic. They have interest in maritime operations and could exploit this as a source of revenue by taxing ships using the coastal waters off the North Eastern Mozambique coast. The group now poses a significant threat to the region. It threatens shipping in the Indian Ocean and worsens the terrorism threat that is consistently growing in the East and Central Africa region. The Jihadists have expanded their territorial reach in Cabo Delgado prefecture in their attempt to carve out a Caliphate Province firmly under their emir. The geography of the vast river-line and seaside prefecture is poorly studied by neighboring countries and counter terrorism experts making it impossible for any convectional military force to insert specialized counter terrorism teams there. These among other factors continue to provide the jihadists with undue tactical advantage at it continues growing it’s rank and file.
