Maputo, 11 Apr (AIM) – A group of islamist terrorists on Wednesday morning invaded Cagembe village, in Quissanga district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado and joined the mostly Muslim population to celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitre, which marks the end of 30 days of fasting during the month of Ramadan.
According to sources, cited in the Thursday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, the terrorists remained in the village until midday, without causing any violence against the population.
“We don’t have many details, but it’s true that they prayed with the population. The same group passed through Namaluco village on Tuesday”, a source said.
Other sources said that the terrorists injured one person who attempted to escape when the group surprised him on his farm. The victim was treated at the Macomia health centre and later transferred to the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, Pemba.
“Yes, I confirm it. The victim was hit by a bullet and is in hospital, but is not seriously injured”, another source said.
Macomia is one of the areas that took in many families from Namaluco when they decided to leave the region because of the terrorist attacks. Also in Namaluco, reports indicate that at least five young people were kidnapped by the terrorists, supposedly to help carry some of their stolen goods.
Some districts of Cabo Delgado have been plagued by terrorism since 2017. In 2022, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) sent a mission to help the Mozambican forces to fight the terrorists but, as a result of funds shortage, some troops, belonging to contributing countries, are starting to leave ahead of mission closure in July, three years after SAMIM deployed in Mozambique.
However, Rwanda plans to send more troops, using a disbursement of about 20 million Euros by the European Union.
(AIM)
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