A group of heavily armed insurgents attacked and occupied the small fishing town of Quissanga in northern Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. The assailants encountered no resistance as there was no presence of the Mozambican Armed Forces or the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR). Witnesses reported that UIR members fled, blending in with the population and heading for the beach. Despite the occupation, the terrorists did not harm the town's residents. Instead, they urged Muslim residents to stay and attend a prayer meeting in a local mosque. The jihadists have changed their tactics by refraining from ambushing and burning vehicles on roads, opting to charge motorists a fee for road usage. A contractor from Pemba was forced to pay 150,000 meticais (about $2,340) under threat of vehicle destruction and harm to workers. The contractor complied, and his workers sought refuge in Quissanga before attempting to flee to Pemba by boat.
Mozambique: Fishing town of Quissanga falls to insurgents
Location:
Quissanga, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, Mozambique, Southern Africa
Incident Date:
February 15, 2024
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