Fishermen kidnapped by terrorists in Quissanga

Maputo, 24 Aug (AIM) — Residents of the coastal district of Quissanga, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, have denounced the disappearance of four fishermen while at sea.

Local sources, cited by the independent paper “Integrity”, believe that the fishermen were kidnapped by the Islamist terrorists that have been carrying out extreme violence against Cabo Delgado districts since 2017.

The fishermen departed late Friday evening toward the neighboring district of Metuge but failed to return at dawn as scheduled. Local residents reported that three of the missing men are from Namaluco, located about 30 kilometers from the National Road Number 380 (EN380).

Community members noted that insurgent groups were spotted passing through surrounding areas just two weeks prior, heightening concerns of direct capture.

Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding search operations or the current whereabouts of the missing men.

According to NGOs, insurgents continue to rely on targeted kidnappings to enforce forced recruitment, exact extortion, and secure forced labor along key maritime and coastal routes.

Recent report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlights a troubling surge in regional security threats, with security incidents in northern Mozambique rising to 73 in a single month.

Violence against civilians remains the primary driver of these events, with over 59 percent of reported cases involving direct armed aggression. These violent acts recently resulted in at least 10 civilian fatalities and the kidnapping of 72 individuals, while widespread looting, village raids, and extortion continue to restrict humanitarian access and trigger fresh displacement among vulnerable populations.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) points out that the conflict has caused more than 6,600 deaths across over 2,400 violent events since its beginning, with the vast majority attributed to terrorists linked to the Islamic State.

(AIM)

Zt/Am/