Insurgent Attack in Quissanga Leaves Macomia Town Besieged

- The attack shows a tendency for the group to expand into the south of Cabo Delgado

- Daniel Chapo instructs the FADM to lead the fight against terrorism

By MOZTIMES

Pemba (MOZTIMES) – Attacks by insurgents are moving into the south of Cabo Delgado province and have bypassed the town of Macomia. On the night of Thursday, 20 February, the insurgents attacked a position of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) in Bilibiza, about 100 kilometres from the provincial capital, Pemba, and once again, there was no effective response from the government forces.

The Islamic State claimed the attack through its propaganda channels, stating that the insurgents killed two soldiers and seized equipment, including weaponry and ammunition.

Over the past few weeks, the insurgents have attacked villages in the north of Macomia district, demonstrating a tendency to expand southwards. Despite the presence of a position established by the Rwanda Defence Force at the administrative post of Chai, the insurgents have encountered little opposition in their incursions.

On 12 February, a clash took place between the Rwandan forces and a group of insurgents in the village of Litamanda, in the Chai administrative post. According to military sources, this clash aimed to halt the advance of the attacks towards the town of Macomia, where a large number of internally displaced people are concentrated.

However, the attack last Thursday in Quissanga demonstrates that the insurgents have managed to advance southwards. Even without attacking the town of Macomia, the presence of insurgents along National Road Number 380 (N380) – both to the south (Bilibiza) and to the north (Chai) of Macomia – leaves the district headquarters surrounded and at risk of suffering a large-scale assault.

On Friday, 21 February, President Daniel Chapo stated that no district was under insurgent control and he instructed the Mozambican Armed Forces to lead the fight against terrorism.

"Lead the military efforts to combat terrorism, so that this scourge is eradicated as soon as possible," Chapo said, speaking at the opening of the 2025 Military Operational Year in Zambézia Province.

Chapo congratulated both the FADM and the foreign forces from SAMIM (SADC Military Mission in Mozambique) and Rwanda for ensuring that no district remains under insurgent control, though he implicitly acknowledged that much work remains to be done.

"From today, we must strive to ensure that the terrorists are not present in our towns and do not occupy a single square metre of our national territory," he declared.

The insurgents' attacks in Cabo Delgado began about eight years ago, and have so far caused the deaths of more than five thousand people, displaced over one million internally, and paralyzed investments in projects for the extraction and processing of natural gas – budgeted at over US$20 billion – in the Mozambique LNG project, led by the French company TotalEnergies. (MT)

Chapo Reaffirms Commitment to APRM

Chapo: One Year Trying to Get the Country Back on Track

Civil Society Leaders Concerned About Government Interference in NGO Operations

Police Deny Shooting at Mondlane’s motorcade

Rwanda’s Involvement in the Congo War Does Not Affect European Union Funding in Cabo Delgado

Chapo Wants Natural Resources to Serve the Country’s Development

Toll Gates Set on Fire in New Wave of Protests

Private Residence of Mayor of Manhiça Set on Fire

Venâncio Mondlane Reaffirms Willingness for Dialogue with Chapo

Trending Tags

Chapo Reaffirms Commitment to APRM

Chapo: One Year Trying to Get the Country Back on Track

Civil Society Leaders Concerned About Government Interference in NGO Operations

Police Deny Shooting at Mondlane’s motorcade

Rwanda’s Involvement in the Congo War Does Not Affect European Union Funding in Cabo Delgado

Chapo Wants Natural Resources to Serve the Country’s Development

Toll Gates Set on Fire in New Wave of Protests

Private Residence of Mayor of Manhiça Set on Fire

Venâncio Mondlane Reaffirms Willingness for Dialogue with Chapo

Trending Tags

Insurgent Attack in Quissanga Leaves Macomia Town Besieged

ExxonMobil Negotiating Tax Advantages Before Resuming LNG Project in Cabo Delgado, Says Analyst

Banks Announce Credit with Discounted Interest Rates for SMEs

Banks Announce Credit with Discounted Interest Rates for SMEs

Search by categories

Category

Recent Posts

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Trending Tags

Trending Tags

Insurgent Attack in Quissanga Leaves Macomia Town Besieged

Support authors and subscribe to content

Subscribe

Desbloquear

ExxonMobil Negotiating Tax Advantages Before Resuming LNG Project in Cabo Delgado, Says Analyst

Banks Announce Credit with Discounted Interest Rates for SMEs

Search by categories

Search from tags

Category

Recent Posts

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?