Civilians Flee as Jihadists Seize Town in Northern Mozambique

In a harrowing account of survival, Tomas Langa, a civil servant in northern Mozambique, described his narrow escape from jihadist militants. "If [the jihadists] knew I was a government official, they would have beheaded me," Langa told the BBC. His name has been changed for his safety.

Woken by heavy gunfire in the early hours of 10 May, Langa saw four armed men outside his house in Macomia, a town in insurgency-hit Cabo Delgado province. Terrified, he fled into the countryside, hiding for three days and surviving on cassava plants. "I was lucky they only insulted me as I ran," he recounted.

Fighters linked to the Islamic State (IS) group attacked government buildings and positions in Macomia, looting shops and warehouses. The jihadists held the town under siege for two days, creating an atmosphere of fear and chaos.

The militants raided a medical facility run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), seizing vehicles and medical supplies, forcing MSF to relocate its staff and suspend operations in Macomia.

Alfane Silva, another resident, was detained and interrogated by eight gunmen. "They were wearing military gear and carried heavy weapons," he said. Silva was ordered to flee to the bush under threat of death. It took two days for government reinforcements to arrive, by which time the militants had already left.

Over 700 people fled the latest round of fighting, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Those remaining, like Silva and Langa, are left without medical facilities or electricity and live in constant fear of further attacks.

The violence had previously declined as security forces, backed by regional troops, seemed to regain control. However, with many of these troops now withdrawing, the situation remains volatile.

The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) mission, consisting of about 2,000 soldiers from eight countries, plans to withdraw its forces by 15 July, ending its three-year mandate. Security experts warn that this withdrawal may be premature, given the ongoing instability.

While Botswana and Lesotho have already withdrawn their soldiers, Angola and Namibia are in the process of doing so. Tanzania will maintain 300 troops, according to the Zambeze newspaper, but South Africa, which has over 1,000 soldiers in Mozambique, will keep its troops until the end of 2024, though not as part of the Sadc mission.

Rwanda, not part of Sadc but a significant supporter of Mozambique, will send an additional 2,000 troops to bolster its existing forces. Brig-Gen Ronald Rwivanga stated that this decision was not influenced by Sadc's withdrawal but was a measure to strengthen their presence.

The IS-affiliated al-Shabab group in Mozambique, active since 2017, has caused significant displacement and destruction. In July 2021, French energy giant Total Energies suspended its $20bn liquified natural gas project after an attack on Palma.

Despite some improvements in security following the deployment of Sadc and Rwandan troops, recent months have seen a resurgence in violence, displacing over 110,000 people since December 2023.

Regional security experts emphasize that Mozambique's armed forces need strengthening to secure a military victory. However, addressing the social and economic disparities in the north, which jihadists exploit, is crucial for long-term stability.

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