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Jihadists in northern Mozambique occupied two small islands in the Indian Ocean last week, threatening tourism and maritime traffic in the region where a multi-billion dollar offshore gas exploration project is underway, locals said on Friday.
The occupied islands are Mecungo and Vamizi, part of the Quirimbas archipelago, known as a diving and vacation paradise, and also home to a number of luxury resorts, many of which involve South African interests. Popular nearby islands include Ibo Island and Medjumbe Island.
It is not exactly clear what the situation is with regard to the resorts and their safety, as the news coming from the region is erratic at best.
According to an employee of Siyabona Africa, a Cape Town-based tour operator that offers luxury vacation packages to various Mozambique destinations, including Ibo Island Lodge and Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort, they have received absolutely no notice or report from the area. .
The employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to comment, said that all shelters were closed due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, so no guests could have been on the islands at the time of the inauguration.
The company also did not know what the status of the resorts is and if they could open once the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
“We can only wait and see how the situation develops,” he said.
The occupation of the islands came a month after insurgents linked to the Islamic State occupied a strategic port city of Mocimboa da Praia, which was used for cargo deliveries for the development of the gas project.
Witnesses told AFP that the militants took control of the islands of Mecungo and Vamizi on Wednesday night of last week.
“They came at night in small fishing boats. They took people out of the houses and then set them on fire, ”said a man who had fled to the island of Mecungo from Mocimboa da Praia.
“They didn’t hurt anyone, they just gave orders to leave the islands,” he said by phone, adding that he had moved inland to the ruby-mining town of Montepuez after sailing to the mainland and then taking a bus to Montepuez. .
The islands were mostly inhabited by internally displaced people who fled their villages on the mainland, where attacks have escalated.
Another witness said that before the houses were set on fire, the insurgents met with the people and ordered everyone to leave the island.
“They brought us together and told us to flee if we wanted to live. I think they all left the island, ”said one who asked not to be identified.
Government forces are still fighting to retake the port of Mocimboa da Praia since it was occupied on August 12.
Militant attacks in Cabo Delgado have rendered the road network between the provincial capital Pemba and the gas-bearing region of Palma impassable.
Maritime transport had been the alternative for goods and people.
But French oil giant Total, which is investing $ 23 billion in the gas exploration project, said it is no longer dependent on the busy port of Mocimboa da Praia.
“Mozambique LNG is not using Mocimboa da Praia as a logistics center and has in fact built its own marine facilities,” Total said in an email response to questions.
Provincial police declined to comment on the occupation of the islands.
On Saturday, suspected jihahists ambushed two cargo trucks carrying passengers from Palma to Nangade district, near the Tanzanian border.
Two anonymous military sources confirmed the attack, which took place near an army post 40 kilometers from Palma.
“Assistance was provided but at this time two deaths and many wounded are confirmed,” said a soldier who witnessed the attack, explaining that one of the trucks crashed into a tree.
A senior official in Palma said the ambush significantly increased the level of threat posed by the insurgency.
“The vehicles circulated without a military escort because we assumed that the route was safe,” he told AFP.
“With this attack we can assume that we are isolated from the rest of the province and the country. Right now, the only safe way to get in and out of Palma is by air ”.
“We are surrounded and at this time the defense and security forces do not have the conditions or the capacity to repel the insurgents from Palma and recover Mocimboa da Praia,” confided another soldier based in the town.
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