Mozambique: Increased jihadist attacks on civilians in August

Islamic oppression Mozambique | 08 September 2022

In Cabo Delgado province attacks have occurred in August in the districts of Palma, Macomia, Muidumbe, Montepuez and Nangade.

According to Crisis 24 reporting on 2 September 2022, attacks in August in Cabo Delgado province have occurred in the districts of Palma, Macomia, Muidumbe, Montepuez and Nangade. Since late August, suspected Islamist insurgents also carried out the following attacks:

31 August - 1 September 2022: “Assailants attacked the villages of Micolene and Muamula in Chiure District. At least one person was killed. Property damage was also reported.”
29-31 August 2022: “Several attacks and kidnappings were reported targeting villages in the Ancuabe District.”
24-25 August 2022: “Militants attacked Minhana village, Meluco District. Several civilians and security force personnel were killed.”

Crisis 24 states: “As of September 2022, the insurgency in Cabo Delgado has killed over 3,000 people and displaced over 800,000. Attacks are linked to militants under the name Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jamo (ASWJ), also known as Ansar al-Sunna, which has, in turn, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).”

World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: “Since October 2017, there have been recurrent attacks in northern Mozambique by Islamic militants who have often targeted Christians and stated that their goal is to set up a caliphate similar to the Islamic State group’s Iraq/Syria model. The number of attacks in Cabo Delgado dropped shortly after the deployment of SADC and Rwandan forces in 2021; however, since mid-2022, violence appears to be on the increase again. The danger remains that the jihadists will be able spread their influence to other parts of the country, resulting in more insecurity, especially for Christians.”