The African Union has called for urgent and coordinated international action after an attack by armed fighters killed dozens and displaced thousands, in the northern Mozambican coastal town of Palma. mozambique
Last week, armed fighters attacked Palma, ransacking buildings and beheading residents. Their forced thousands of residents to seek safety in the surrounding forest.
Mozambique’s government has confirmed dozens of deaths, including at least seven killed when militants ambushed vehicles trying to escape the Amarula hotel. One South African is confirmed to have died as a result.
The attack is the biggest escalation by fighters that have battered Cabo Delgado – a gas-rich province – since 2017.
In a statement, AU Chairman Moussa, Faki Mahamat said he “condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks”.
Expressing “utmost concern” at the presence of international hardline groups in southern Africa, he called for an “urgent and coordinated regional and international action”.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc, has also held emergency talks in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital, to discuss the violence.
After the meeting, Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi promised regional help but gave no details.
“The SADC would respond in a helpful manner. We assure the integrity and sovereignty of one of our own; never to be assaulted by dissident, rebellious and non-state actor forces that undermine the democratic credentials and peace in the region.”
Botswana President, Mokgweetsi Masisi
According to United Nations estimates, Palma is home to some 110,000 people. These include some 40,000 internally displaced people who had settled there after fleeing attacks by ISIL-linked fighters elsewhere.
Attack survivors brought to safety
AU’s statement comes amid reports of the recue of over 1,000 survivors of last week’s deadly attack. The survivors have safely reached the port of Pemba by boat, officials declared.
Reports indicate that aid workers were at the crowded port in the capital of Cabo Delgado province, to give food to the displaced people disembarking from the green-and-white ferry. Police and soldiers kept control of crowds of people excited to see relatives, while others continued to despair without any news.
Speaking to reporters, a survivor, Mariamo Tagir, who arrived on the ferry, revealed that she had spent seven days in the bush, crying every day.
“I don’t know where my son is … it’s very painful. The situation is really bad, many dead.”
A humanitarian official said the government was screening those arriving at Pemba to prevent infiltration by armed groups. The fighters are known as al-Shabab, but have no affiliation with the armed group with the same name in Somalia.
The United States in the aftermath of the attack declared Mozambique’s rebels to be a “terrorist” group. It announced that the country has deployed 12 military trainers to help the southern African country’s marines.
Portugal, Mozambique’s former colonial power, also announced that the country is sending 60 soldiers to help train Mozambican special forces.
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