The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, classified terrorism and natural disasters as “the worst evils of the nation,” urging the reaffirmation of patriotism as a condition for overcoming the challenges imposed. This statement was made on Tuesday, February 3, in Maputo, during the celebrations of Mozambican Heroes’ Day.
“Among the greatest challenges of the moment, the end of terrorism in some districts of Cabo Delgado province continues to be our major concern. The Defense and Security Forces (FDS), with the support of forces from Rwanda and Tanzania, and with the active participation of local forces, remain determined to combat this evil, so as to allow the return of populations to their areas of origin and the resumption of gas projects in the Rovuma basin,” he said.
According to the head of state, the improvement in the security situation in the northern region has also encouraged the implementation of other local development projects, such as the Fish Processing Plant in Mocímboa da Praia, an infrastructure inaugurated on January 29, as well as the installation in Niassa of the first graphite processing plant.
“We will continue to carry out reconstruction work on destroyed infrastructure in order to ensure the normal functioning of public and private institutions, including the restoration of basic services such as energy, water, health, and access roads, to create better living conditions for the Mozambican people,” he said.
In his speech, Chapo also emphasized that natural disasters continue to be another challenge for the country, especially during this rainy and cyclonic season, recalling that due to its geographical location, Mozambique cyclically suffers the effects of climate change through extreme events such as strong winds, rains, cyclones, and storms, which result in floods.
“This year, we celebrate Mozambican Heroes’ Day in a very adverse context, in which thousands of families are still mourning the death of their loved ones and the destruction of public and private infrastructure as a result of the major floods that hit mainly the southern and central regions of the country,” he explained.
According to the leader, “this is the time for Mozambicans to draw inspiration from national heroes to rebuild what has been damaged by natural disasters and terrorism. We urge everyone to reaffirm patriotic values as a basis for overcoming the challenges facing our country together.”
Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado—a province rich in natural resources, particularly gas—has been the scene of an armed insurgency that has already claimed thousands of lives and caused a humanitarian crisis with more than one million internally displaced persons.
In April 2024, the attacks also spread to the neighboring province of Niassa. One of the most serious incidents occurred in the Niassa Reserve and the Mariri Environmental Center in the district of Mecula, where non-state armed groups attacked facilities, stole goods, destroyed camps, and an aircraft belonging to the park. These acts resulted in the deaths of at least two people and led to the displacement of more than 2,000 individuals, 55% of whom were children.
On the other hand, updated data from the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD) indicate that, since the beginning of the rainy season in October, 844,000 people have been affected throughout the country, with 153 deaths and 254 injuries recorded. Given the seriousness of the situation, the government declared a national red alert on January 16, and there are currently 77 accommodation centers in operation, housing 76,251 displaced people.
Since January 7, 229 health facilities, 316 schools, and five bridges have also been damaged. In the agricultural sector, the floods affected 440,842 hectares of crops, of which 275,405 were reported as lost, affecting 314,780 farmers. It is also estimated that 408,115 head of livestock, including cattle, goats, and poultry, have died.
The European Union, the United States of America, Angola, Portugal, Norway, Japan, and South Africa have already announced and sent emergency humanitarian aid.
