Tanzania: UK FCDO warns against all but essential travel to areas of border with Mozambique November 2

Event

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) modified its travel advice for Tanzania on Monday, November 2, to warn against all but essential travel within 20km (12 miles) of the border with Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. The warning follows several cross-border attacks by alleged militants based in Cabo Delgado, including an assault on the village of Kitaya in the Mtwara region in the early hours of October 15 in which up to 300 militants staged simultaneous attacks on a Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) outpost and local government offices. A medical center and local businesses in Kitaya were also targeted, although the government has not confirmed how many people were killed in the attack.

Military-led security operations are likely to continue in the Mtwara Region and other areas along the southern border in the medium term, with the possibility of associated disruptions and travel restrictions in some areas. However, there remains a realistic possibility of further cross-border militant attacks launched from Cabo Delgado.

Context

Tanzania has increased security along its border with Mozambique since the emergence of the Islamist insurgency in the neighboring Cabo Delgado province in 2017. Although militants in the region have staged few attacks in Tanzania, with incidents before the Kitaya assault being limited to attacks on remote border communities, the government has previously announced several major security operations in areas bordering Cabo Delgado in order to secure the border and shut down alleged smuggling routes.

Following the deployment of additional TPDF units to the border in May 2020, the Tanzanian government ordered the evacuation of some border communities in the Ruvuma, Mtwara, and Lindi regions in August ahead of planned security operations.

Advice

Those in areas near the border with Mozambique are advised to monitor developments, remain vigilant for militant activity, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.