Alessandra Ciffo
Through Amaq Agency[1], the Islamic State (IS) published a photo report with 24 images showing part of a series of armed attacks against different Christian villages, including Nkiora, Kitivahola, Muerota, Mazizi, and Nakoza, in Chiure district Cabo Delgado, conducted from February 12th to February 16th, by Mozambique State, which led to the killing and wounding of various Christians, the destruction of many houses and churches, and the escape of more than 13 thousand of others.
As
reported in the previous article[2], besides the military
operations toward Christian villages and people, the Mozambique Province
mujahideen are continuing to visit Muslims in the district holding meetings and
lectures about religious and ideological beliefs to the local population.
On
February 22nd, in Al-Naba newspaper issue 431, the IS released an infographic
showing how the raids and armed assaults have been escalating within 52 days in
different locations within Cabo Delgado province, including Macomia: “ 27
diverse attacks, in which 6 different vehicles were destroyed ( likely from
four-wheel drives to other vehicles), 70 among Mozambican Security Forces and
Christians were killed and wounded, and 500 between houses, churches,
government building for Christians, and included 3 Mozambican Army positions
were destroyed.”
Moreover,
as represented in the image above, the mujahideen attacks directly caused
severe consequences across various sectors of the society in the Mozambican
region, involving significant worsening and losses on the economic systems,
with a sharp increase in migration, a large exodus from the villages, and a
rise in insecurity. The Security Forces, including the international companies
localized in the areas, have demonstrated to be ineffective in guaranteeing
protection and ensuring security due to the IS militants' success in stopping
them.
The insecurity status in Mozambique, especially in Capo Delgado province, has dramatically arisen due to the increase of criminality and IS military operativeness, which is clearly known to both the National authorities and the international forces in the area, such as the French embassy in Mozambique who has advised the French citizens to not travel to the cities of Mocimboa da Praia, Palma, and Pemba, as well as other settlements in the province of Cabo Delgado, knowing to be IS military operations’ red zone.
[1] The Islamic State’s official media
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