Mozambique: Heightened attack threat in Palma district

Event

The US Embassy warned its citizens on Friday, June 8, of possible imminent attacks targeting government and commercial centers located in Palma district (Cabo Delgado province; north) and advised its nationals to leave the area or postpone travel. As of June 11, no such attacks have been reported.

Context

Several attacks have taken place in the area since October 2017, including four during the first week of June 2018, in which over 30 people were killed. 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 Islamist terrorist group of the same name active in Somalia and, to a lesser extent, in Kenya.

Advice

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