Terrorist movement spreads fear in Cabo Delgado

The population of the Macomia region, located in the center of the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, this Monday condemned the alleged movement of terrorist groups into local agricultural production areas, which has caused fear.

Community sources in northern Mozambique told Lusa that a group of about 30 rebels were spotted early Saturday afternoon in the forests of Nambini, a farming area.

“They went through the Nambini forests, there were a lot of terrorists there, towards Kisanga,” a local community source from the Macomia district headquarters told Lusa.

The same source said that the movement of the rebels almost 30 kilometers from the district headquarters of Macomia led to the flight of some peasants: “There are people who fled from Nambini because although they did not kill anyone, be very careful when you talk about terrorists not enough.” .

Another source said this was not the first time terrorists had passed through the Nambini forests on their way to Kisanga, a fact that had caused an uproar among producers.

“They always use this road towards Kisanga, it makes us uncomfortable,” complained a source from Macomia.

People add that if the situation continues, it could contribute to hunger in the communities, since Nambini is one of the areas of Macomia that brings together a significant number of local peasants and others.

“We are only afraid of hunger. Nambini is one of the areas where many people from Macomia and beyond are opening mashambas (production fields), another member of the public warned.

The Mozambique region of Macomia is located in the center of the province of Cabo Delgado, 200 kilometers from the capital Pemba, along the EN380 road, one of the few paved roads in the region.

After months of relative normalcy in areas of Cabo Delgado affected by armed violence, the province has been registering new movements and attacks for weeks by rebel groups that have restricted traffic at some points on the few paved roads that give access to several areas.

The province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency for six years, with attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency, which has intensified since December with several attacks on the population and military forces, has led to a military response since July 2021, supported first by Rwanda with more than 2,000 soldiers, and by the Southern African Development Community liberating areas near natural gas fields projects.