Islamic State-Linked Militants Attack Key Mozambique Port Town

TDT | Manama

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Insurgents linked to the Islamic State group launched an attack on the port town of Mocimboa da Praia in northern Mozambique on Sunday, local sources reported. The town, located about 80 kilometres south of a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) project operated by French energy company TotalEnergies, has been a focal point of violence in recent years.

According to a local trader who fled with his family, the militants killed two Mozambican soldiers and beheaded at least two civilians. The insurgents clashed with Rwandan troops, who had been deployed to support Mozambican forces, before retreating. A local military official said four people were killed in total.

Social media reports and local news outlets, including Moz24h, suggested that four civilians were beheaded during the attack. Neither the Mozambican nor the Rwandan militaries have issued an official statement.

Mocimboa da Praia, in the Cabo Delgado province, has been a hotspot for militant activity since 2017. The town was captured by insurgents in 2020 but was recaptured in 2021 by joint Mozambican and Rwandan forces.

The nearby LNG project has faced repeated disruptions since a major attack in March 2021 on the town of Palma, which killed over 800 people, including subcontractors working for TotalEnergies.