Mozambique: Suspected insurgent attacks occur in rural Cabo Delgado Province Aug. 24-Sept. 1

Event

Since late August, suspected Islamist insurgents have carried out several attacks in rural locations in Cabo Delgado Province.

• Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Assailants attacked the villages of Micolene and Muamula in Chiure District. At least one person was killed. Property damage was also reported.

• Aug. 29-31: Several attacks and kidnappings were reported targeting villages in the Ancuabe District.

• Aug. 24-25: Assailants attacked Minhana village, Meluco District. Several civilians and security force personnel were killed.

In addition to the incidents listed above, attacks in August have also occurred in the districts of Palma, Macomia, Muidumbe, Montepuez, and Nangade.

Further attacks are almost certain to occur in the region over the medium term. These could include attacks against civilian targets, clashes with security personnel, or assaults targeting towns in the area. Authorities will almost certainly maintain an increased security posture in the affected areas of Cabo Delgado and may erect roadblocks or restrict access on some roads. Security-related operations could result in localized ground transport disruptions. Increased vehicle checks are also likely on roads leading to and from larger urban centers.

Context

Mozambique's north, particularly Cabo Delgado Province and, to a lesser degree, the Niassa and Nampula provinces, has been subject to an Islamist insurgency since October 2017. As of September 2022, the insurgency in Cabo Delgado has killed over 3,000 people and displaced over 800,000. Attacks are linked to militants under the name Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jamo (ASWJ), also known as Ansar al-Sunna, which has, in turn, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS). Local community leaders have blamed the attacks on a group of radicalized youths calling themselves Al-Shabaab, without any proven connection with the Somalia-based group. Since 2020, the militant group has shown an ability to temporarily seize major urban centers in the province, including Palma and Mocimboa de Praia. This has raised concerns that the violence could threaten economically important oil and gas investments in Cabo Delgado as companies seek to increase their investments in the nascent sector.

Authorities extended the deployment of military personnel from the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in Cabo Delgado Province as of Aug. 18; officials did not immediately announce when the SAMIM mandate would end. Following the deployment of the SAMIM force in July 2021, combined local and international forces have retaken key urban areas occupied by the insurgents, pushing them further inland and into more rural areas. Nonetheless, insecurity persists; the militants operate in relatively autonomous cells, and their self-reliance contributes to the difficulty the government has had in tracking down and identifying their support networks.

In response to the insurgency, various foreign governments are maintaining travel advisories for the province:

• The UK government advises against all travel to Mueda, Nangade, Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, Muidumbe, Meluco, Macomia, Quissanga, and Ibo districts in Cabo Delgado Province, including the islands off the coast. The government also advises against nonessential travel to Ancuabe and Metuge districts, as well as Palma town and the Afungi Peninsula.

• The US government advises against all travel to Ancuabe, Chuire, Ibo, Macomia, Meluco, Metuge, Mocimboa da Praia, Mueda, Muidumbe, Nangade, Palma, and Quissanga districts, and instructs travelers to reconsider travel to Pemba in Cabo Delgado Province.

• The Australian and French governments advise against travel to Cabo Delgado Province.

Advice

Consider deferring nonessential travel to Cabo Delgado until government forces manage to stabilize the security landscape. Maintain contact with diplomatic representations. Liaise with trusted security partners for further information. Travel in convoy after a full security review of the route and avoid all travel after dark. Review and update contingency plans. Carry personal identification documents while traveling throughout Cabo Delgado. Heed all security personnel instructions.