Insurgents killed at least two Mozambican soldiers in an ambush around the village of Nahavara in the Mecufi district of Cabo Delgado province on Tuesday, approximately 20km from the provincial capital Pemba, local sources told Zitamar News.
On the evening of 30 January, insurgents attacked a joint patrol of the Mozambican Armed Defense Forces (FADM) and the Local Force militia. At least two members of the Local Force were killed in their vehicle, several more were injured, and a military vehicle was burned. One source reported that eight soldiers were killed in total. The casualties were taken to Metuge district hospital.
Before the ambush, insurgents also attacked the nearby village of Makwaya, kidnapping several civilians and burning homes.
Following the attacks, almost 100 people in the area fled to the coastal villages of Natuco and Sembenes in Mecufi, Zitamar understands.
The attacks took place less than 10km from the two vital highways that connect Pemba to the inland mining areas in the west and Nampula province in the south.
Groups of insurgents have been moving south from Macomia district since 19 January.
This article was produced by Zitamar News under the Cabo Ligado project, in collaboration with Mediafax and ACLED. The contents of the article are the sole responsibility of Zitamar News.
