Civilians Killed in Fresh Attack on Mozambique Port Town

Civilians Killed in Fresh Attack on Mozambique Port Town

Armed fighters struck the port town of Mocímboa da Praia in northern Mozambique early Monday, killing several civilians in a violent assault.

Residents reported that the attackers entered before dawn, forcing a local man to go door-to-door calling out specific names.

Victims who stepped outside were immediately executed. Military sources confirmed that at least three civilians were beheaded, while three of the attackers were later killed by a hunter from the area.

Witnesses also recounted that four men were decapitated and a pregnant woman was shot, later dying in hospital. Others were abducted during the raid, though the exact number remains unclear.

The attack marks the second time this month the town has been targeted. On September 7, militants killed four civilians in a similar manner.

Mocímboa da Praia, located about 80 kilometres south of a multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project, has been a flashpoint of the insurgency since 2017.

The wider Cabo Delgado province has endured years of extremist violence, with conflict monitors estimating that more than 6,200 people have died since the insurgency began.

The unrest forced the suspension of a major gas development in Palma in 2021 after militants stormed the area, leaving over 800 people dead.

Mocímboa da Praia was once a vital entry point for fuel, machinery, and other supplies to the gas hub, but continued attacks have left the region unstable, with international investment largely stalled.

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Chioma Ndukwu

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