Mozambique reports 154 terror attacks in five months
Insurgents targeted 16 districts in Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces, affecting 120 communities.
More than 150 terrorist attacks occurred in northern Mozambique between June and October, with most incidents concentrated in Cabo Delgado province. Brigadier-General Sérgio Estrela, Commander of the EU Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM MOZ), presented these findings in Maputo, noting the geographic spread and mobility of insurgent groups. The attacks affected 16 districts, including 15 in Cabo Delgado and one in Niassa, impacting 120 localities.
Estrela highlighted that insurgent tactics now include kidnappings and ransom demands, making monitoring important for effective responses. Local communities report limited presence of Mozambican Defence Armed Forces (FADM) in areas of Muidumbe and Mueda, allowing insurgents greater freedom of movement. The Islamic State of Mozambique claimed responsibility on November 1 for killing 14 people in Muidumbe and Mueda districts the previous week.
An investigator from the Institute of Security Studies noted that despite nine years of external training and equipment efforts for the Mozambican armed forces, concrete results on the ground remain insufficient. Communities continue to suffer from inadequate security and human rights violations.
Why it mattersOver 150 terrorist attacks in five months have affected communities in northern Mozambique, impacting security and human rights.