People say terrorists have taken over Mukoyo town

Residents of Mucojo in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province told Lusa on Tuesday that the administrative post had been controlled by a group of terrorists since Sunday.

“The Mukoyo administrative post has been in the hands of terrorists since Sunday, but the population remains in the same place. They have told the population not to worry as they just want to confront the military,” one of the people told Luse, speaking anonymously.

Mukoyo Administrative Post in Macomia County is 40 kilometers from the district headquarters and plays an important role in the region as a fish hatching point, having been the scene of several clashes with the military in recent years. weeks.

In the last few hours, Lusa has been trying to hear from the Macomia District Administrator about the alleged terrorist takeover of Mukoyo, but he has not sent any statement pending government clearance.

“Although they said that they have nothing to do with the people, we are afraid. Because this happened the last few times, but then they raped us,” another local source added, in turn, confirming the residents’ fears.

Another source in the community confirmed to Lusa that the terrorist occupation of Mukoyo was preceded by a letter purportedly sent to the Defense and Security Forces (DSF) in the area, dated January 18, asking the military to leave on fear of further confrontation.

“They are brave, they sent a very clear letter saying that the GSS must leave urgently to make way for them, otherwise they will suffer serious blows,” a source from the Macomia headquarters, where the five people who fled from Mukoyo were admitted, told Lusa. . on Sunday.

According to local residents, despite warnings about the capture of the city, part of the population remains in Mukoyo, and vehicles move almost normally.

“I think the government should intensify the siege from Macomia to Mukoho. The cars are still driving, the people are still there, it’s strange. Maybe the rebels could live with us here at Macomia headquarters,” he lamented that he was once a community leader from the district headquarters and also welcomed a family of seven who fled the captured city.

On Thursday, the rebels also invaded some stalls and looted essential goods in Mukoho.

“They are confused, they take food and don’t pay, and then they ask us to stay and not be afraid of them,” laments Amiss Shale, a fisherman and resident of Mukoyo for more than 20 years.

Cabo Delgado province has faced an armed insurgency for six years, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group, leading to a military response from July 2021 backed by Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). liberation of areas near gas projects.

The conflict has already displaced one million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and nearly 4,000 people have died, according to the ACLED Conflict Recording Project.