Insurgents linked to the Islamic State (IS) launched a deadly raid on the northern Mozambican town of Macomia, killing at least four civilians and abducting several others, local military sources and residents told AFP on Monday.
The assault, which took place on Sunday night, marks the latest flare-up in Cabo Delgado province, where Islamist militancy has raged since 2017.
The region is home to a multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) project led by French energy giant TotalEnergies, which has remained stalled since 2021 due to insecurity.
A military officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the attackers killed four people—including a merchant—and kidnapped two girls before clashing briefly with local militia. “Some insurgents were wounded before they withdrew from the town,” he added.
Residents described scenes of terror. “We heard gunshots around 8 p.m. and ran into the woods. When they entered the neighborhood, they killed four people and kidnapped four others, including a woman and her two daughters,” one witness said. Another reported that insurgents shot dead a young man who refused to hand over his father’s belongings.
Macomia lies close to a major Rwandan military base. Rwandan troops have supported Mozambican forces in Cabo Delgado since 2021, but authorities rarely comment on or confirm such incidents.
The conflict has taken a devastating toll. According to the monitoring group ACLED, at least 6,200 people have been killed since the insurgency began.
The violence has also disrupted humanitarian efforts. On Friday, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced it was suspending medical activities in Mocímboa da Praia and surrounding areas following an upsurge in attacks.
Mocímboa da Praia, once a key landing port for fuel and equipment headed to Palma’s gas hub, was overrun by militants in 2020.
The insurgency forced TotalEnergies to halt its $20 billion LNG project after a major attack on Palma in March 2021, which left more than 800 people dead, according to ACLED.
Families of victims and subcontractors later filed a lawsuit against the French company in 2023, alleging negligence.
Despite the setbacks, TotalEnergies recently signaled that construction could resume within months, raising hopes for renewed investment—but also concerns over whether security can be stabilized.
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