Suspected Islamic State-linked insurgents again attacked the town of Mocimboa da Praia in the early hours of Monday 22 September, killing at least five civilians and kidnapping others.
Sources told Zitamar News that the attack took place around 02:00 in the Filipe Nyusi neighbourhood, the same neighbourhood hit by insurgents on 7 September. Of the five victims, at least four were beheaded after the insurgents went from house to house, and the fifth victim, a woman, was shot.
Witnesses said that members of the Rwanda Defence Forces responded to the insurgent incursion by launching two grenades, which forced the attackers to retreat. One grenade reportedly landed on a residential balcony but caused no injuries.
Sources also confirmed that several civilians were abducted during the attack, with reports indicating that families have received ransom demands. The exact number of those kidnapped remains unconfirmed, though initial claims suggested three people were taken. One of those taken was an employee of a Mozambican non-governmental organisation, according to two separate sources; one source said they had been freed after a ransom was paid.
During the attack, several residents fled their homes during the night to the bush, where they stayed until dawn. Others continue to flee the town of Mocimboa da Praia, fearing further attacks.
The attack on the same neighbourhood on September 7, killing four civilians including a primary school teacher, was the first in Mocímboa da Praia since 2021, and prompted many families to flee to safer areas.
Following that attack, civil and military authorities in the town sought to reassure residents and state employees about their safety. According to the latest update from the Mozambique Conflict Monitor on 11 September, the authorities held a public meeting to discuss the situation, which turned into a peaceful protest as people refused to talk to representatives of the Mozambican security forces present.
Insurgents have remained active in the Mocimboa da Praia district. On September 14, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for killing one person in the village of Mbau on September 12. On September 5, a group of fighters clashed with a Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) patrol near Diaca, over 40 km west of Mocimboa da Praia town.
According to ACLED, the conflict monitoring organisation and Zitamar’s partner on the Mozambique Conflict Monitor, the first two weeks of September saw nine incidents of political violence in Cabo Delgado, resulting in 21 fatalities, most of them civilians.
This article was produced by Zitamar News under the Mozambique Conflict Monitor project, in collaboration with ACLED. The contents of the article are the sole responsibility of Zitamar News.
