Karen Mhlanga
Islamists insurgents have captured a heavily- defended port in far northern Mozambique town of Mocimboa da Praia, close to the site of natural gas projects worth some $60billion, local media reported.
“The port of Macimboa da Praia was captured by the terrorists at dawn,” the Moz24Horas website reported.
The port is used for cargo deliveries to the development but this year insurgents with links to the Islamic state have stepped up attacks on the region.
Local site Zitamar said the port had been seized on Tuesday, when the naval forces ran out of ammunition to keep insurgents at bay after days of fighting.
The attacks have worsened since a group called Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama pledged allegiance to the Islamic State last year and IS subsequently began claiming the local group’s attacks, including another strike on Mocimboa da Praia earlier this year.
The IS said on social media that it has taken over two military bases in Mocimboa da Praia which resulted in the deaths of Mozambique soldiers and the capture of weaponry ranging from machine guns to rocket- propelled grenades.
The remote region is far from Mozambique’s main central city of Beira and the Capital Maputo in the far south.
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