Insurgents affiliated with the Islamic State in northern Mozambique have carried out yet another violent attack, resulting in the deaths of four civilians in the town of Macomia. Reports from a local military official, as well as eyewitness accounts, detail how the assault occurred late on Sunday night.
The renewed surge of violence in Cabo Delgado province, where an insurgency has been active since 2017, raises concerns amidst a backdrop of a multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas project that has been stalled for years. This project, managed by French energy giant TotalEnergies, is hoping to resume operations.
According to an anonymous military officer, the attackers killed four individuals, one of whom was a local merchant, and kidnapped two young girls during the chaotic assault. The officer added that there was a brief clash with local militia members before the insurgents retreated, though some were reportedly wounded in the confrontation.
Residents described the situation as terrifying, with one individual recounting gunshots ringing out around 8 PM, prompting a rapid escape into nearby woods. They confirmed that the casualties included a man who was fatally shot for refusing to relinquish his father’s possessions.
The Mozambican government has remained silent regarding this incident, as is often the case with attacks of this nature. A significant military presence of Rwandan forces, which have been aiding the Mozambican army since 2021, is stationed just outside Macomia, yet the local populace continues to experience severe violence.
The conflict, which has claimed over 6,200 lives since its inception, has led to continued disruptions in humanitarian assistance. Recently, Doctors Without Borders announced the suspension of its medical services in Mocimboa da Praia, an area that had previously served as a vital supply link for the gas projects in the region. This announcement follows a series of recent assaults that have further destabilized the area.
Mocimboa da Praia was once a bustling port for fuel and equipment vital to operations near Palma, another site severely impacted by violence. The TotalEnergies gas project has faced multiple delays since the militants’ attack in March 2021, which resulted in the deaths of over 800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). In light of the ongoing instability, several subcontractors and victims’ families have initiated legal actions against TotalEnergies, seeking accountability for the violence.
Despite the challenges, TotalEnergies has indicated that it is optimistic about potentially restarting construction on the $20 billion liquefied natural gas project within months, signaling a complex intersection of economic interests and ongoing security concerns in the region.
