An Islamic State terrorist organization has claimed to have executed 11 Christians in Mozambique’s Mocímboa da Praia district.
The group also says they targeted local military forces, but this is unconfirmed.
The attack happened in the village of Naquitenge. A local source lost a relative during this violent event.
According to him, villagers were called for a meeting. They did not know the group’s extremist nature.
The group then separated individuals by religion and started shooting. While the group claims 11 deaths, locals report at least 12 dead and several injured.
“Some injured people ran into the forest,” another source described the attack as especially brutal.
Mocímboa da Praia is close to a critical natural gas project in Afungi, Palma. The area has been a conflict hotspot since 2017.
Mozambique’s Defense Ministry has not commented yet. This incident comes weeks after the military announced the death of extremist leader Bonomade Machude Omar.
Omar was on a U.S. terrorist list and faced EU sanctions.
Ongoing conflicts in Cabo Delgado have lasted nearly six years.
They impact natural gas production and receive aid from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The UN reports that the conflicts have displaced about one million people. Different sources cite varying death tolls, from over 2,000 to around 4,000.
Background
The attack in Mocímboa da Praia is not an isolated event. This district has been a conflict zone since 2017.
It’s also close to a major natural gas project, indicating economic implications. Ongoing conflicts harm this key industry.
Bonomade Machude Omar’s death was a military victory. However, this new attack shows that the extremist threat is not gone.
It raises questions about the effectiveness of military operations.
Support from Rwanda and the SADC is significant. Yet, the continued attacks suggest that external help is not enough.
A comprehensive strategy seems necessary for long-term peace.