Combate ao terrorismo na provincia de Cabo Delgado
Maputo, 25 Mar (AIM) – Although Quissanga district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, has been free from Islamist terrorists since last Thursday, the local population is facing shortages of food, as well as difficulties in accessing basic services, specially education and health.
According to local residents, cited in Monday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, even though the terrorists left Quissanga town after about two weeks of occupation, life is still complicated, with the demand for food and basic services being a major concern.
“Fear still reigns, a situation made worse by the absence of the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces. The public services are not working”, said a source.
According to another source, the administrative posts of Mahate and Bilibiza are now safe and “Cars can drive at least as far as the Mahate region, when they leave Pemba [the provincial capital], and then people walk to Quissanga town, either from Metuge or Bilibiza. Life is moving on.”
Almost three weeks ago, the Muepane – Mahate road that leads to the Quissanga district capital was impassable due to the Montepuez River bursting its banks.
However, according to the paper, last week a group of terrorists was seen travelling in the north of the Metuge district trying to cross the Montepuez river to the Quissanga side.
Also last week, another group of jihadists was reported to have gone to the village of Cagembe, in the Bilibiza administrative post, where on previous occasions they had held meetings with the population without resorting to violence.
There are no details about what happened during their recent presence in Cagembe.
As a result of the terrorist presence, the districts of Quissanga and Ibo have not been able to start the voter registration, which has been underway since 15 March in most of the country, ahead of the presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for 9 October.
(AIM)
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