Alessandra Ciffo
Islamic State (IS)
claimed an armed attack conducted on February 16th by Mozambique State[1] on Nkiora, a Christian
village in the Shiur area of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, in which a Christian was
killed and a church, 24 houses, and a
school were burned.
The attacks against
Christians, like militias, villages, and civilians have risen lately, such as
the attack in Chai village against Christian militias, or the kidnapping and
killing of a Christian in Litamabda village, near Pemba city, Cabo Delgado, or
again a similar situation happened to another Christian in Macomia County, Cabo
Delgado, both in early February.
Since late January
2024, there has been monitoring the IS in strengthening its power through propaganda and ideology
among the Mozambican population through its
visits to Muslim villages in the Macomia District, Capo Delgado, such as
Darumba village, taking a lecture for the locals titled “the importance of
establishing Sharia laws, waging jihad and other religious provisions.”
Moreover, the IS
reported taking various meetings with the Muslim population in several
villages in the Macomia district, Cabo Delgado province, including Phangan,
Nakotoko, and Mukojo, where the mujahideen held religious and political
discussions with the local population, like the importance of following Islamic
practices and beliefs, dividing people along religious lines, and warning
against any assistance to government forces. In a few situations as stated by
the local administration of some villages of Kisanga district, IS militants
passed through these areas without causing damage to anyone and appeared open
to dialogue with local residents, who would more likely accept its
administration, control, and “protection” likely affecting the National forces
authority, like Mozambican army, which,
according to various IS supporters and militants, “they are afraid to clash
directly with IS Mozambique State and IS fighters in the area, retreating or
fleeing.”
[1] One of the “wilayat”
(provinces) of the IS officially recognized.
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