What awaits in Mucojo

Good afternoon. It is now safe for villagers to return to the administrative post of Mucojo, in Cabo Delgado’s Macomia district, according to the district administration (see below). Or is it? 

Around the time of last week’s announcement that it was safe to go back, the head of the Rwandan military mission in Mozambique, Major-General Emmy Ruvusha, visited the town of Mucojo along with Admiral Joaquim Mangrasse, the chief of the armed forces general staff. The visit seems to have been intended to convey to locals that the area had now been made safe.

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From the Zitamar Live Blog:

Zitamar Mozambique Live Blog

Protesters stormed a police station in the village of Mangungumete, Inhassoro district, Inhambane province, today, in retaliation for the shooting of three people, according to a video circulating on social media. At least three weapons are in the hands of the protesters and the house of the head of the police station has been set on fire. Yesterday protesters blocked the road to Mangungumete, with many vehicles stopped at the scene, according to another video. Opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane asked people to block the streets with vehicles as part of protests over last month’s disputed elections. Sign up for Zitamar’s daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on BlueSky, Twitter / X, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

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Zitamar Mozambique Live Blog

The diplomatic missions of Canada, the UK, the US, Norway and Switzerland have condemned the incident where a person was run over by a military armoured vehicle during peaceful protests in Maputo yesterday (see blog post above). The statement urged the Mozambican government to investigate and ensure accountability for this and other instances of “disproportionate use of force” by the security forces. United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Mozambique Catherine Sozi expressed alarm over reports of deaths and injuries, including the same incident, and called for the authorities to show “the necessary restraint”. Sozi’s statement is attached, and the joint statement can be found on X here. Sign up for Zitamar’s daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on BlueSky, Twitter / X, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

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Even so, the administrative post is not really ready to receive all its inhabitants who have left to escape the insurgents. As usual with deserted parts of Cabo Delgado, it takes time to restore public services. There is no functioning health post, no schools and no running water for those fortunate enough to have access to it normally (a rarity in the province). Zitamar News sources say that, while some locals have returned to Mucojo, most of them have only gone there to fish, with a minority bringing their belongings back.