Islamic State Mozambique (IS-MOZ) claimed an attack in the Chiúre district where they are said to have killed 2 people and 70 houses, and a church was burned. The attack comes as the insurgents appear to be edged towards the south of Cabo Delgado province which until recently has been considered relatively safe from the insurgency.
The attacks appear to indicate that the insurgents are working towards capturing southern territory and closer to Pemba. Pemba has long been considered to be a safe haven in the province, but the recent bout of armed incursions in surrounding towns and villages has changed the risk status of Pemba.
Since the group started credit for attacks as IS-MOZ, it is evident that there is constant communication with ISIS-Central, a drastic change in the group’s tactics as well as movement towards the south as well as the claims show more brutality in the attacks. The recent seeming south-bound attacks are most likely a tactic to stretch further the already stretched thin troops by expanding. With Pemba being the priority, a seeming south-bound insurgency will prompt the reallocation of the deployed troop from the north towards Pemba and as such in the coming weeks attacks in the northern districts are projected to increase.
Thus, while SAMIM, RDF, and FADM troops seek to liberate the militancy in Cabo Delgado, it is crucial to note that IS-MOZ has been morphing and changing tactics to evade the growing pressure, retain already held territory as well as capturing new territory with the end goal being Pemba. Pemba is very strategic and as such an attack on the town would cripple the province and any hopes for reviving the LNG project.
