Militant Attack in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Leaves Three Dead
A militant attack on the village of Ntontwe in northern Mozambique has resulted in the deaths of three individuals and the destruction of numerous homes and businesses, local officials and security sources report. The assault, which occurred on Wednesday, represents another violent incident in the Cabo Delgado province, an area grappling with insurgent activity since 2017, reports 24brussels.
Located along a key road connecting the province’s northeast and south, Ntontwe had only recently started to repopulate after years of neglect. Local leaders reported that 43 houses were set ablaze and market stalls were looted and torched before the attackers fled the scene.
Witnesses indicated that despite the presence of Mozambican troops in the village, soldiers reportedly abandoned their posts during the attack, allegedly removing uniforms to avoid being targeted.
The village lies approximately 20 kilometers north of Chinda, where Rwandan forces are stationed as part of a regional military initiative to combat insurgent groups. However, Rwandan troops arrived too late to mitigate the damage inflicted during the assault.
A village elder expressed frustration, stating that “the insurgents had already done everything they wanted” by the time assistance arrived.
Humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and Solidarités International, have been providing critical services to returning residents, estimated at around 5,000 as of October. This attack threatens to undermine recent progress in resettlement and stability for the community.
This incident is part of a broader escalation of violence in Cabo Delgado. According to reports from the UN and the International Organization for Migration, nearly 60,000 individuals have been displaced in just the past two weeks due to attacks carried out by armed groups affiliated with the Islamic State.
The humanitarian response is currently facing significant funding shortages, with only 19% of Mozambique’s 2025 aid plan financed.
