Jihadists in Mozambique expand their attacks to areas hitherto spared

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), since the beginning of the month, more than 17,000 people have fled the fighting in northern Mozambique, the vast majority being women and especially children, having notably reached the town of Pemba. .

Here, a Mozambican in this regional capital, June 16, 2022. © Alfredo Zuniga / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In northern Mozambique, after a relative lull and the intervention of troops from Rwanda and southern African countries, the attacks intensified again.

The Cabo Delgado region, rich in natural resources, has been the scene of jihadist violence since 2017. This violence has so far been concentrated mainly in the north, near the border with Tanzania, either around the cities of Palma or even Mocimboa da Praia.

But they have now moved to other regions.

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With our correspondent in southern Africa,

Attacks have recently been recorded in the districts of Ancuabe and Chiure, regions

and hitherto relatively spared from the violence, as well as on the border with the neighboring province of Nampula.

In total, since the beginning of the month, a dozen people have been killed, and some victims have even been beheaded.

It is still too early to say whether this is a change of strategy on the part of the jihadists, who are launching their raids on new grounds, or a consequence of the pressure exerted by the armed forces.

But

worry specialists.

The incursions further south are also causing concern in the large city of Pemba, the regional capital located about a hundred kilometers from these areas, and where many inhabitants have found refuge since the start of the conflict.

In response, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced that he wanted to intensify the military response, with

(SADC) deployed on the spot.

According to the NGO Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled), the conflict has already claimed more than 4,000 victims.

And the resumption of violence could further curb the

, which has put its gas mega-project in the region on hold.

Refugees forced to flee a second or even a third time

And these attacks are causing new massive movements of populations, with more than 17,000 displaced since the beginning of the month, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The vast majority being women and especially children.

Since the start of the crisis, five years ago, this figure has risen to 800,000 people who have left their homes.

The violence is further degrading the humanitarian situation, according to Brechtje van Lith, regional director of the NGO Save the Children:

Attacks are observed in villages and areas that were previously unaffected.

This is worrying, because the places where this violence is now taking place are already hosting refugees.

We have many internally displaced people who have settled there after fleeing the conflict in recent months or in recent years.

It uproots these people for a second or even a third time, which is really traumatic for them.

And this also has consequences for the humanitarian response, which has been slowed down and is experiencing difficulties.

We have had to withdraw temporarily from certain areas, others are a little more difficult to access, and all this feeds the instability.

As the current attacks are not large-scale, they do not destabilize Pemba, but it remains worrying to see them approaching the city.

For Brechtje van Lith, regional director of the NGO “Save the Children”, this new violence “uproots people for a second, even a third time”

Claire Bargeles

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• mozambique

• Terrorism

• Refugees

• Immigration

• International Migrations