By MOZTIMES
Pemba (MOZTIMES) – After carrying out incursions in the south and north of Cabo Delgado, insurgents have once again struck the central region of the province, killing four civilians in the village of Mapate, Muidumbe district.
The attack took place on Monday morning (25), forcing residents to flee to nearby villages. All the victims were men, found inside their homes when insurgents stormed the village under the scorching sun.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack through its propaganda channels. In addition to the killings, the insurgents also set fire to villagers’ huts.
The Mapate incursion further heightened insecurity in other villages of Muidumbe, such as Mandava and Muambula, where residents have been sleeping in hiding places at night, despite the presence of Local Force militias who, even without resources, continue trying to protect the population.
Muidumbe district has long been a frequent target of insurgent attacks, a situation exacerbated by the weak response of the Defence and Security Forces. According to residents, the last significant patrol by pro-government troops was carried out in 2022 by Botswana forces deployed under the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).
Earlier this month, another civilian was killed near the village of Miangalewa while returning from fishing on Lake Inguri, an area frequently patrolled by insurgents.
Miangalewa, an important production centre in Muidumbe, has not seen a significant return of displaced families due to the persistent presence of insurgents. The locality lies along the National Road 380, where Islamic State militants have erected barricades and extorted road users.
Between 20 July and 3 August 2025, intensified attacks by non-state armed groups in Muidumbe, Ancuabe and Chiure displaced about 57,000 people (13,300 families). (MT)
