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A South African has died in the violence in Mozambique.
- Around 200 expatriates were stranded at the Amarula Palma hotel in northern Mozambique after fleeing a new wave of surprise insurgent attacks in the region.
- Many have fled into the bush after the new attacks began on Wednesday.
- It is not clear what the motive for the violence is.
At least one South African died, while several were among 200 expatriates trapped in a luxury hotel in Palma, northern Mozambique, after they fled a new series of surprise insurgent attacks in the region.
There were reports from the ground on Friday that at least seven expats traveling in a convoy were killed in an attack while trying to flee the area.
Expats and locals alike were said to have fled into the surrounding greenery and sought refuge after the attacks began Wednesday afternoon and appeared to coincide with the resumption of Total Liquefied Natural Gas operations in the region, after a hiatus. three months after an outbreak of violence in December.
It is not yet clear what the motive for the new attacks is.
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Accounts from sources on the ground speak of a situation that is “totally out of control”, in which the insurgents have the upper hand.
Until now, private military companies, the police and the Mozambican Defense Armed Forces have struggled to contain the violence.
There are indications that the attacks were planned days in advance and that the insurgents infiltrated the town with armed backpacks, according to information gathered from sources on the ground.
The South African-registered private military company Dyck Advisory Group dropped bombs on the attackers, managing to confront them successfully and helping evacuate some of the expatriates trapped in the Amarula Palma hotel, as well as bank employees in a six-seater helicopter to the camp. of Total in Afungi.
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There are reports that this base also had to be evacuated later.
The spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Lunga Ngqengelele, could only confirm the situation, “… through our mission in Mozambique”, and that the department was, “… providing consular services to afflicted South Africans while continues to monitor the situation. “
The European Union said on Thursday that it was “closely following” the ongoing armed attack in the Palma region and assessing possible needs for assistance to European citizens affected by this new episode of violence.
