Mozambique Mining Company Evacuated and Operations Suspended Due to Armed Attack Nearby

A mining company in northern Mozambique has been evacuated and operations suspended following an armed attack nearby, majority shareholder Gemfields, the UK, said.

“Shortly before midnight on Sunday, an attack attributed to the rebels took place in the village of Nairoto, in the province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique,” ​​the statement said.

The village is located about 15 km southwest of a mine owned by Nairoto Resources Limited (NRL), in which Gemfields owns 75%.

“As a consequence, the NRL began the evacuation process” with the departure of “operational personnel and contractors, so operations on the site ceased,” he described.

Gemfields has another mine in the area that continues to operate.

Nairoto is located about 83 km north of Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM), in which the British brand also owns 75%.

In Montepuez, “there is no impact on operations,” the statement said.

“Gemfields, MRM and NRL consider the health and safety of their employees and contractors to be their highest priority and are in regular contact with government agencies,” the statement said.

The province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency for five years now, with the Islamic State extremist group claiming responsibility for some attacks.

The insurgency has led to military retaliation since July 2021, with the support of Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating areas near gas projects, but new waves of attacks have emerged in the south of the region and in the neighboring province. from Nampula.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the conflict has already displaced one million people and killed about 4,000 people, according to the ACLED Conflict Registration Project.