- The district hosts one of the world’s largest graphite reserves, operated by Twigg Exploration and Mining, a subsidiary of Syrah Resources.
- There had been no recorded insurgent attacks in Balama since 2022.
By MOZTIMES
Pemba (MOZTIMES) – Insurgents carried out two attacks in Balama district, in southern Cabo Delgado province, in less than a week. The most recent occurred at around 19:00 on Friday (19 September) in the community of Monapo, in the Mavala administrative post, and resulted in a man being beheaded.
According to local sources, several other people were abducted and held for hours overnight before being released later.
The first attack in this series was recorded on the night of 15 September in the village of Messalo, about 76 kilometres from the Balama district capital.
In Messalo, according to the same sources, the insurgents looted a small local shop, set fire to the homes of the community leader and the village secretary, as well as several classrooms at the local primary school.
Balama hosts one of the world’s largest graphite reserves, operated by Twigg Exploration and Mining, a subsidiary of Syrah Resources Limited, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange
The attacks took place far from the mine and have not, for now, affected operations. Even so, this is the first recorded incursion into villages in Balama since November 2022, indicating an expansionary trend in insurgent activity.
By Saturday, according to local sources, Defence and Security Forces had not yet been deployed to the area, prompting many families to leave villages in Mavala for the Balama district capital, considered a safer area. (MT)
