Rampaging Mozambique militants seize SA resorts
Taking the key port of Mocimboa da Praia has given insurgents key marine equipment
In a series of deadly attacks a string of Mozambican islands, several of which are home to luxury SA tourist resorts, have been taken over by heavily armed insurgents.
Since 2017, Ahlu Sunnah WaJamo, which is believed to be supported by the Islamic State group, has been carrying out violent attacks in the country’s mineral- and gas-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado.
Last month, in a major victory, the insurgents took over the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia.
Mocimboa da Praia is the main port in the heart of the country’s vast offshore gas fields, where $60bn (about R1trillion) in projects are at risk.
In the port’s capture, fighters seized high-powered Mozambican police speedboats.
It’s these, say SA security analysts, that have allowed the insurgents to launch a series of maritime attacks now.
Over the weekend insurgents stormed and took control of at least five islands around the northern Mozambique port town of Palma — a major tourist diving-holiday destination.
Palma is a vital supply route to the international gas companies’ facilities in the area.
The rebels also took control of the main roads leading to Palma, ambushing trucks transporting cargo and civilians and attacking four villages near the town.
Jasmine Opperman, an analyst with the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, said the situation was grave. “Mocimboa da Praia is still under the insurgents’ control. This weekend the rebels launched attacks on at least five islands close to Palma and four villages within the municipal district.”
Among the five islands attacked was Vamizi, “which is home to SA tourist resorts”.
Opperman said the rebels were carrying out highly coordinated attacks showing a high degree of tactical sophistication.
“The government’s delays in countering the Mocimboa da Praia attack has given the rebels the time to expand their area of dominance. This allowed them to take over islands.”
Opperman said it was clear the insurgents were trying to stretch the government forces thin.
“The simultaneous island, road and village attacks were co-ordinated. As well as the road from Mocimboa da Praia to Palma, the rebels hold the Pandahar Palma road which is the only other road to that town.
“For supplies to reach workers on the gas fields they must come through Palma. The road is the only way for supplies to reach Palma as it does not have a big harbour like Mocimboa da Praia.”
The insurgents had occupied several islands while destroying infrastructure and capturing speedboats from other islands.
“The insurgents now have a strong maritime capability, which is rapidly evolving.
“They are sealing off the region both by land and sea, and exerting their dominance. They pose a grave risk to vessels travelling through the area.
She said the time being taken to plan a response was helping the insurgents re-arm, fortify their positions and prepare for future attacks.
“We have crossed the threshold of time. If we don’t find security damn quickly we will have the Islamic State with an entrenched presence in Cabo Delgado and beyond.”
Residents in Palma, speaking to Times Select anonymously, said they had no way of escaping after the islands were seized.
“There is so much confusion. Nobody is going through the area. The bandits attack the cars. People are turning back to the town.
“The situation is bad. There is no way out. There is no convoy and no soldiers to get us out.”
Willem Els, coordinator and counter-terrorism expert at the Complex Threats in Africa Program, said the insurgents’ sophistication was alarming.
“Three years ago the insurgents’ weapon of choice was the machete. Now they are armed with heavy machine guns. “They are highly tactical, have excellent training and are a force to be reckoned with.”
He said the attack and fall of the islands, especially Ibo and Vamizi, where people were beheaded and women and children kidnapped, was worrying.
“Vamizi is now completely under the insurgents’ control, as well the surrounding islands. Island capture is part of their larger strategy to establish sea bases, with more attacks taking place from the sea.
“Reports have emerged of villages, which are on the edge of the gas field zone, being raided. There is 1km-long floating gas tank facility which is potentially a vulnerable target.”
Els said the maritime attacks were launched from Mocimboa da Praia’s port. “They carried out these attacks with the speedboats captured from the Mozambican police.”
Institute of Security Studies researcher Liesl Louw said more than 2,000 South Africans worked in the Cabo Delgado region as contractors and subcontractors to the gas projects.
“SA has a major economic connection to the region through business.”
She said while it was a highly sensitive geopolitical issue, the silence of the Southern African Development Community region had not helped the situation.
“Given the unknown Isis threat and its reach, SA’s government obviously will not want to go it alone.
“Given how rapidly the situation is evolving, and with the insurgents now having maritime capacity and advanced weaponry, this will require some sort of SADC intervention.
“With the large number of foreign companies’ interest in the gas fields in the short term, if SADC or the AU do not act, we will see the wider international community becoming involved.”
International relations and co-operation minister Naledi Pandor told parliament last week that SA was waiting for a lead from Maputo before acting on the insurgency in Mozambique.