Mosimboa rebuilds port occupied by rebels

The restoration of the Mozambican port of Mocimboa da Praia, which was in rebel hands in 2020, is expected to cost US$30 million, according to the administrator, who expects the work to be completed by the middle of this year.

“At this first stage, we are talking about investments in the amount of about six million dollars. [5,6 milhões de euros]but at the end of the whole development program we counted a total of $30 million [28 milhões de euros]”, – said Helenio Turzao.

On the night of August 12, 2020, armed groups carrying out attacks in Cabo Delgado invaded the port of Mocimboa da Praia and clashes with defense and security forces resulted in the death of an unknown number, including naval forces, in addition to the destruction of several infrastructure facilities.

According to Eleniu Turzao, the rebels, who occupied the port and headquarters of Mocimboa da Praia for several months, devastated the entire infrastructure, as well as the cargo of several clients located there.

“We found the port to be extremely devastated both in terms of infrastructure and cargo. We had to carry out all the cleaning activities in order to start the restoration, ”the administrator said.

Infrastructural work, including the construction of a new jetty and the rehabilitation of the container park, began in August 2022 and is expected to be completed in July, as the area gradually comes to life thanks to the combined efforts of the Mozambican, Rwandan and Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces.

“The commercial and industrial fabric is already returning with some force, which means that there is already economic activity for the population, which is returning at a rapid pace,” concluded Helenio Turzao.

After several months of being in the “hands” of the rebels, Mosimboa da Praia was looted, almost all public and private infrastructure was destroyed, as well as power supply, water supply, communications and hospitals.

In total, some 62,000 people, almost the entire population, have left the seaside village due to the conflict that began five and a half years ago, with a focus on the exodus that occurred after the intensification of the rebels in June 2020.

In October 2017, armed groups carried out their first attack on a coastal village long referred to as the rebels’ “base”.

Mocimboa da Praia is located 70 km south of the construction site of the natural gas exploration project, in Afungi, Palma, under the management of TotalEnergies.