Mozambique: Suspected jihadists kill five people in Cabo Delgado June 6 /update 2

Event

At approximately 21:00 (local time) on Wednesday, June 6, suspected jihadists armed with machetes attacked the village of Namaluco (Cabo Delgado province), killing at least five people. According to local sources, the attackers also set fire to several houses. On June 5, security personnel from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) deployed into Cabo Delgado to assist local police in securing the province.

Context

Several attacks have taken place in the area since October 2017. The violence appears to be driven by resentment among the local Muslim population toward the state. A group of dozens of young men, locally referred to as "Al-Shabaab," or "the youths," is suspected of being behind these attacks. The group has no confirmed ties to the infamous jihadist organization of the same name active in Somalia and, to a lesser extent, in Kenya.

Advice

Individuals present in Mozambique are advised to remain vigilant at all times (especially during public events, as well as in crowded places) and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.