- Since late June, insurgents have been attacking villages in Palma, heightening the threat to multi-billion-dollar gas projects in the Rovuma basin
By MOZTIMES
Pemba (MOZTIMES) – Insurgents linked to the Islamic State continue to stage attacks in Palma district, home to the Mozambique LNG project operated by TotalEnergies. On Monday (25), jihadist militants captured and killed two men in Uvilili village, about 30 kilometres south of the company’s Afungi camp.
The renewed wave of attacks has prompted TotalEnergies to tighten security, instructing subcontractors to keep their staff within the camp perimeter. Mozambique’s Defence and Security Forces have deployed troops to the area, but Monday’s assault demonstrates that the insurgent threat remains active.
According to local sources, the victims from Uvilili were found in the nearby bush while carrying out routine farming activities. The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday, stating via its propaganda channels that “caliphate soldiers captured and killed three Christians”. Unlike on previous occasions, the group did not publish images. There is no evidence that the victims were, in fact, Christians. Such claims form part of IS propaganda portraying itself as sparing Muslims.
“It is true they killed two people. The insurgents encountered them in the bush, while many others remained in the village, which is not far from the spot,” a local resident told MOZTIMES.
Another resident said the area where the victims were killed is a known insurgent corridor. “That forest has always been a preferred route for insurgents. They use it to reach the coast to collect fish and, on their return, pass through the same path inland.”
Since August, insurgents have carried out raids on several Palma villages, including Maputo, Mute, Maganja and Pundanhar, targeting both civilians and military positions. (MT)
