Jihadist attacks continue to rise in Mozambique with reports with hundreds of locals fleeing following the escalating situation in the northern and gas-rich region of the country.
Villagers are fleeing a gas-rich region in northern Mozambique calling for more protection in the face of increased attacks by a shadowy jihadist group linked to the Islamic State.
Citing security officials and local residents interviewed by international media, fear is spreading fast in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s northernmost province following jihadist attacks and significantly reducing morale among troops and police.
The Islamic State linked jihadist group came to light in October 2017, targeting a police station and since then the group has killed close to 1000 people, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The UN reports says at least 100,000 people have fled their homes as jihadist violence continue to spread towards the province’s south.
There has been surge of the brutal attacks perpetuated by the armed groups over the past months with the recent weeks being the most volatile period according to UN refugee agency spokesman Andrej Mahecic.
The jihadist group which started with about 30 members majorly comprised of local unemployed youth in Mozambique has grow to close to 300 members. Recent intelligence reports show that Tanzanians make up a huge percent of the members joining the group. Radical Tanzanians who were unable to travel to Somalia have found their way south and have joined the Islamic States Terrorists Group affiliate in Central Africa ISCAP.
The group has claimed dozens of attacks in Cabo Delgado not only targeting civilians but also the security forces, whose counter-terrorism capability is questionable.
Grassroots sources in the region confirm the worsening situation as mass exodus of people continue to be witnessed on major roads and as their villages go up in flames, MSF ‘s teams coordinator Bruno Cardoso, in the area adds.
The situation is volatile. Mozambique’s troops who are on the ground opt for defensive and now it is the jihadists who are chasing and attacking government troops and not the opposite – media reports.
Following the escalating situation, the oil companies have asked for the doubling of the 500 soldiers deployed in April to protect a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Afungi, one of Africa’s biggest single investments in Africa.
Also, Africa Union for the first time discussed the escalating terrorist threat in Mozambique at the 33rd African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa. The AU discussion comes after more than two years since the insurgency started in the northern Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique.
