Insurgents affiliated with the Islamic State launched a brutal attack on the port town of Mocimboa da Praia in Mozambique early on Monday, resulting in the beheading of several civilians. The assault marks the second instance of violence in the area this month, intensifying concerns over security in a region already grappling with militant activity.
Mocimboa da Praia, situated approximately 80 kilometers south of a vital international gas hub, has seen a resurgence in violence tied to the ongoing insurgency in Cabo Delgado province. Locals reported that the militants invaded the town during the early hours, forcing one resident to identify specific individuals in a chilling house-to-house search. According to a local military official, three civilians were killed immediately upon being identified. The official also noted that a neighborhood hunter managed to kill at least three of the attackers during the incursion.
Further witness accounts indicated a grim toll, with one local stating that four men were beheaded and a pregnant woman was shot, later succumbing to her injuries in a hospital. Reports suggest that several individuals were also kidnapped in the latest raid.
The Mozambican government has remained largely silent on such incidents, rarely confirming the details of these attacks, leading to widespread uncertainty regarding the security situation in the region.
Cabo Delgado has been a hotbed of insurgent activity since 2017, leading to over 6,200 deaths as reported by the conflict monitoring group ACLED. The militants’ first attack on Mocimboa da Praia in September saw four civilians brutally beheaded, underscoring the escalating violence.
Historically, Mocimboa da Praia served as a vital logistics hub for fuel, vehicles, and equipment intended for companies involved in the nearby gas project near Palma. However, the project has been markedly stalled since militants attacked Palma in March 2021, resulting in more than 800 fatalities, including several subcontractors for TotalEnergies.
Despite the escalating violence, TotalEnergies announced potential plans to restart construction on the multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas project within the coming months, raising questions about the interplay between the security situation and economic interests in the region.
