Northern Mozambique rocked by terrorism again
Since 2017, the north of Mozambique has witnessed an awful terrorist campaign that has killed thousands and displaced nearly 1 million people. Recently, there has been an upswing in terrorist attacks in the region.
By Filip d’Avillez
Mocímboa da Praia Church totally destroyed during the attack on the village, on 27-28 June 2020.
Terrorists have struck again in the region of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, killing an unknown number of people, kidnapping women and children and forcing at least 11,000 to flee, swelling the number of displaced to well over 800 thousand.
Islamist militant in Cabo Delgado. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
The latest attacks took place in the districts of Ancuabe and Chiure after nearly a month of relative peace and seem to confirm changes to the modus operandi of the terrorist group which identifies itself as the Province of Mozambique of the Islamic State.
Whereas the terrorists began their activities in October 2017 with large scale offensives, and even took towns in Cabo Delgado, they now tend to strike in smaller groups, making it easier to infiltrate and attack small villages and settlements.
“We are in a very confused period, with new attacks spreading to the southern region of the Diocese, a lot of panic and a lot of uncertainty. Thanks for your help”, the current bishop of Pemba, António Juliasse Sandramo, said in his latest message to ACN.
The government has stepped up the military presence in the area, and is providing protection to convoys along main roads, but local witnesses who asked not to be identified have told the international charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the army has also suffered casualties. “It has not only been civilians who have been decapitated, but also soldiers. But we are finding it very difficult to obtain more accurate information”, says the source.
Refugees Cabo Deldado. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
Bishop Juliasse Sandramo, who was installed at the end of May, calls on the world to please not forget the plight of Mozambicans. “Cabo Delgado still faces a terrorism problem and needs the presence of the whole world, both with humanitarian aid and in the search for global solutions so that Mozambique can find stability, peace and progress”, says the bishop, speaking to ACN.
“We have parishes that have been practically destroyed, priests who are living in difficult situations because they had to abandon their missions empty-handed; children, elderly people and others are in great need, and we can’t handle it by ourselves.” In some places missionaries have been advised to retreat to safer areas.
“I ask the world to please not forget about Cabo Delgado”, he adds.
ACN commits to new help
Mozambique is predominantly Christian, except in the north of the country where Muslims are a majority. A big number of IDPs is non-Christian. Even in the minority, however, the Church has been a beacon of aid and stability for all those affected by the violence in the northern regions.
Bishop Antonio Juliasse Ferreira Sandramo blessing refugees in the resettlement of Meculane. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
“Parishes and religious communities continue to be places of relief. They are present when people arrive, they welcome them, offer food, shelter, spiritual assistance and psycho-social support”, says bishop António Juliasse.
The new bishop of Pemba shows his appreciation for Aid to the Church in Need, which has been on top of the situation, both by spreading information about the crisis and by providing immediate assistance. Speaking about the approval of new help for refugees, he adds: “Even though the military intervention generated some hope for a return of the people to their places of origin, that continues to be a very distant reality”.
“Aid to the Church in Need is a very good friend of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique and Africa. It has done so much to help, and thanks to that help we, as a Church, have also been able to carry out our work, draw closer to its flock and be a tool of evangelisation. I want to thank all those who cooperate so that ACN can help needy people all over the world. And may God bless all its benefactors!”, he says.
ACN has mostly been assisting with pastoral, material and psycho-social support projects for those who have been forced to flee their homes, but also through the supply of construction material for houses to relocate people and to build community centres, and the acquisition of vehicles for missionaries who are working with the displaced.