spot_imgspot_img
Sunday, June 16, 2024

MOZAMBIQUE’S PRESIDENT SAYS NORTHERN TOWN UNDER ISLAMIST ATTACK

Date:

MAPUTO, (REUTERS) – Mozambique’s army is fighting Islamist insurgents who launched a major attack on the northern town of Macomia on Friday morning, President Filipe Nyusi said in a televised address.

The town is in Cabo Delgado, a gas-rich northern province where Islamic State-linked militants launched an insurgency in 2017. Despite a large security response, there has been a surge in attacks since January this year.

Two security sources told Reuters that hundreds of fighters are believed to be involved in the latest attack.

“Macomia is under attack since this morning. Fire exchange still continues,” Nyusi said at around 1000 GMT, adding that the militants initially withdrew after about 45 minutes of fighting, but then regrouped and came back.

Friday’s attack appeared to be the most serious militant attack in the area in some time.

A regional force from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which deployed in Mozambique in 2021, started withdrawing last month as its mandate ends in July.

Piers Pigou, head of Southern Africa Programme at the Institute for Security Studies, said the attack on the Macomia district headquarters validates concerns over a security vacuum opening up with the drawdown of the southern African troops.

Figures released by the International Organization for Migration in March show over 110,000 people displaced since the end of last year, amid escalating violence in the province.

The offensive comes as French oil company TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), opens new tab is seeking to restart a $20 billion liquefied natural gas terminal in Cabo Delgado that was halted in 2021 due to the insurgency. That project is some 200 kilometres (124 miles) north of Macomia, the town under attack.

ExxonMobil, with partner Eni, is also developing an LNG project in northern Mozambique and said last week that it was “optimistic and pushing forward” as the security situation had improved.

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

ADDITIONAL REVELATIONS: SENATORS REPORTEDLY RECEIVED $15K EACH BEFORE CONTROVERSIAL RETREAT

MONROVIA – In a startling revelation, prominent activist Martin...

MARTIN KOLLIE RESIGNS FROM UP GOVERNMENT, CRITICIZES LEADERSHIP AND RETURNS TO CIVIL SOCIETY ADVOCACY

MONROVIA – Martin Kollie, a prominent advocate within Liberia's...

TRUST DETERIORATES: DISILLUSIONMENT DEEPENS WITH PRESIDENT BOAKAI

MONROVIA – Accountability and transparency are becoming significant points...

THE SENATE’S EXTRAVAGANCE AMID ECONOMIC DESPAIR

The recent Senate retreat in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County,...

LIBERIA’S LEGAL SYSTEM UNDER SIEGE: THE UNPUNISHED CRIMES OF MARIA LUYKEN

In October 2020, the Criminal Court ‘B’ at the...

COMMUNICATIONS MISHAP: A SIGNIFICANT EMBARRASSMENT TO THE PRESIDENCY

The recent debacle surrounding the Unity Party government's conflicting...

COMMENTARY

NO, SPEAKER KOFFA, I DISAGREE WITH THE DEFENSE OF LAWMAKERS

By Wondah L. Jah In a recent public statement, Grand...

COMMEMORATING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY: A DEFINING MOMENT IN HISTORY

Eighty years ago, on June 6, 1944, the course...

THERE SHOULD BE NO BIG DEAL WHEN A GOVERNMENT DOES WHAT IT WAS ELECTED FOR…

A Patriot's Diary  With Ekena Nyankun Juahgbe-Droh Wesley  President Joseph Boakai's...

LATEST NEWS

PROMINENT LIBERIAN FIGURES TO FACE ARREST AND PROSECUTION FOR ECONOMIC CRIMES

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – In a significant development for justice...

OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION SURROUNDING SAMORA WOLOKOLLIE – JOHN MORLU

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – In a recent radio interview, the...

EPS INVESTIGATION FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF TARGETED ATTACK ON FORMER VP JEWEL HOWARD TAYLOR

MONROVIA – The Executive Protection Service (EPS) is currently...

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

ELEVATING THE AG BIBLE COLLEGE TO A UNIVERSITY: A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

By Jacob N.B. Parley After many years of successful preaching...

THE DILEMMA OF PRESIDENTIAL SUPREMACY IN LIBERIA: EXAMINING THE BALANCE OF POWER

By Dr. Clarence R. Pearson, Sr. Superior presidency is the...

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN UP-LED GOVERNMENT’S DEAL RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS

In a shocking and controversial move, the Unity Party...

THE PERILS OF PRAISE SINGING: HOW JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN LIBERIA

Journalists play a crucial role in holding public officials...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link