Militants have launched new attacks in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, killing several civilians and forcing many to flee, according to local sources on Monday. The violence, which has plagued the region for years, is linked to insurgents operating in the gas-rich area.
One of the latest attacks occurred early Monday in Meluco district, where assailants raided a village, looted homes, and killed at least one resident. A local witness reported that the victim was beheaded after resisting an attempt to steal his livestock. The attackers also set fire to around 10 houses, some of which belonged to village leaders. A military source confirmed the incident and said many residents had fled to neighbouring areas.
In a separate attack on 14 March in Macomia district, insurgents reportedly killed three villagers and burned down several homes while stealing supplies. Local militia forces engaged the attackers, allegedly killing five of them.
The insurgency in Cabo Delgado began in 2017 and has been linked to IS militants. The conflict has led to the deaths of nearly 5,800 people and disrupted plans to exploit the region’s vast offshore gas reserves, first discovered in 2010. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in 2021 when militants stormed the port town of Palma, killing dozens and displacing thousands.
Meanwhile, French prosecutors announced on Saturday that they had launched a manslaughter investigation into energy giant TotalEnergies over allegations that it failed to protect subcontractors in the region. Some of these workers were reportedly among those killed during the Palma attack.
