Maputo, 19 Sep (AIM) – The self-styled “Islamic State” terrorist group has claimed, through its propaganda channels, that it murdered 11 people, whom it described as “Christians”, in Mocimboa da Praia district in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
This is clearly the same attack as that mentioned by the Mozambican media last Thursday against Naquitengue village, although those reports put the death toll at 12.
Local sources cited by the Portuguese news agency Lusa said the attack occurred at about 15.00.
A source who lost his nephew in the raid said “when they arrived they called a meeting. The villagers did not know they were terrorists. They began to separate moslems from Christians, on the basis of their names”.
Another survivor said the raiders “sprayed people with bullets. Some people were injured and fled into the bush. It is one the most cruel attacks we have heard about”.
Defence Minister Cristovao Chume declared on Monday that the latest terrorist attack is not discouraging or demoralizing the Mozambican armed forces (FADM) and its allies from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Speaking at the opening of a week commemorating the 59th anniversary of the launch of the armed struggle for Mozambican independence on 25 September 1964, Chume said the attempt to terrorise the civilian population was to be expected. He regarded it as retaliation for the death of terrorist leader Bonomade Machude Omar in late August.
“This is not preventing the FADM from remaining encouraged alongside its allied forces, and the local militia, in the fight against terrorism”, he declared.
The attack against Naquitengue, Chume added, could have been intended to show national and international audiences that the terrorist remain active.
For the Mozambican forces, he said, it was “a sign that we must continue with full capacity”. In order to ensure “zero terrorist activity, the sector must remain vigilant, and must not let down its guard following the death of terrorist leaders”.
(AIM)
Pf/ (333)