The Mozambican Head of State, Filipe Nyusi, said on Thursday that armed attacks in Cabo Delgado are a threat to the efforts made by his executive for the country’s development.
“The violence perpectuated in some districts [of Cabo Delgado] by terrorists is another threat to our efforts [for development],” Filipe Nyusi said, speaking at a virtual roundtable of the Commonwealth organisation.
Districts further north in Cabo Delgado province have for the last three years been the target of attacks by groups classified as a terrorist threat, which has led to a humanitarian crisis with over 700 people displaced, according to the United Nations, and around 2,500 deaths, according to Lusa.
The violence escalated again last month when armed groups first attacked the village of Palma, which is about six kilometres from the multi-million dollar natural gas projects.
The attacks caused dozens of deaths and forced thousands of Palma residents to flee to Nangade, Mueda, Montepuez and, above all, Pemba (the provincial capital).
Besides the armed violence in Cabo Delgado, during the Commonwealth roundtable Filipe Nyusi addressed his Government’s efforts in the face of covid-19, calling on the body to strengthen support for member countries with fewer resources.
“The Commonwealth can make a difference, acting as a whole, in mobilising more resources to acquire vaccines against covid-19 [for member countries with fewer means],” Filipe Nyusi said.
