Residents of the Macomia district in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado reported this Monday gunfire and fighting in the forests of Mucojo, 40 kilometers from the city where the district headquarters is located, allegedly between the military and rebel groups.
Constant gunfire continued after rebel groups invaded and attacked the village of Macomia on May 10, which they abandoned the next day for Mukoyo, according to residents.
“It hasn’t been easy since the terrorists invaded Macomia town. The shooting in the Mukoho area has intensified,” a source at the district headquarters told Lusa.
There have been no deaths or reports of people fleeing the fighting, but the intensity of the fighting has worried farmers in Nambina, less than 10 kilometers from Mukoyo, who fear more attacks.
“We don’t know if anyone died between the parties. This is tormenting us and I don’t know if some will give up their machambas (production fields) for Macomia,” a source from Nambine told Luse.
Some shops looted by terrorists during the May 10 invasion of Macomia remain closed.
“We have no working shops, the owners left the city of Macomia out of fear, we only have stalls operating at a slow pace,” said a source at the Macomia district headquarters.
The rebel group’s attack on the town of Macomia, one of the largest in recent months, forced nearly 1,500 people to flee their homes between May 10 and May 14, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to the United Nations agency’s latest report reported by Lusa, “attacks and fears of attacks” by these armed groups have led to the flight of more than 530 families from Macomia, for a total of 1,461 people recorded by IOM. at destinations, with more than half (57%) being children.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed the “terrorist attack” on May 10, confirming that one of the group’s leaders had been wounded by the Mozambican Armed Defense Forces (FADM) and another killed.
Local sources consulted by Luza later confirmed that at least five bodies were discovered when the population returned to the town of Macomia after rebel groups – some reported numbering around 100 people – fled the city more than 24 hours later.
The attacks also led to the looting of the city’s shops, with rebels seizing cars and motorcycles.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi had already confirmed late the same morning the attack on the Macomia district headquarters, explaining that it took place in an area previously controlled by the military mission of the southern African countries. , which is gradually being phased out until July.
“It is true that this is territory occupied by our brothers who support us in retreat. But those on the ground are 100% Mozambican. Perhaps there could be reinforcements there (…). When they leave, I hope that we can come together and organize better, because the transition period allows for that,” he acknowledged, praising the continued intervention of the Mozambican military.
Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado has been in the grip of an armed uprising, with attacks blamed on movements linked to the extremist group Islamic State.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal

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