A recent attack in a remote tourist town in northern Mozambique has been attributed to jihadists associated with the Islamic State group, resulting in the deaths of at least two rangers, as reported by a local conservation organization. The Niassa Carnivore Project (NCP) indicated that the incident occurred on April 29 within a nature reserve, an area that has been increasingly troubled by violent insurgencies.
This region, rich in natural gas resources, has suffered from a protracted wave of jihadist violence, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced over a million people over the years. The ongoing strife has also led to the suspension of a significant gas exploration project by TotalEnergies, highlighting the broader economic implications of the violence.
In its statement, the NCP confirmed that their team had worked tirelessly for several days to support rangers and local community members affected by the attack, which prompted more than 2,000 people to flee into the bush for safety. Tragically, two other rangers remain unaccounted for, and one is reported to be in serious condition.
The recent attack marks a troubling resurgence in violence after a nearly three-year period of relative calm in Niassa. This follows another incident on April 19, wherein jihadists targeted a nearby hunting safari camp, compelling NCP to evacuate their team and assets.
The security situation in Cabo Delgado, which borders Niassa, has prompted ongoing concerns from analysts and conflict-monitoring organizations like ACLED, which note that the jihadists continue to launch operations from this insurgency epicenter. Since the onset of the conflict in 2017, an estimated 6,000 people, including 2,500 civilians, have lost their lives in northern Mozambique. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported that more than 1.3 million individuals have been displaced, creating a dire humanitarian situation.
The crisis reached a significant peak in 2021 when militants conducted a prolonged assault on the port town of Palma, forcing thousands of residents to seek refuge in surrounding forests. As violence persists, the international community remains concerned about the stability and safety of this gas-rich region.
