12 SA Citizens Believed to Be Part of Jihadist Group in Mozambique
- At least one South African has lost his life due to Jihadist attacks by Al-Shabab militants in Mozambique
- Dozens of others were also killed in the town of Palma just 10km away from a massive gas project run by Total
- At least 12 South Africans are reportedly linked to the terror group which pledged allegiance to ISIS
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A number of people have lost their lives in the town of Palma in northern Mozambique. Reports say that around 12 South African citizens are believed to be linked to the Jihadist group that attacked Palma.
Palma is just 10km away from a massive gas investment, one of the biggest in Africa, by the French company Total. The US state department identified the group as Al-Shabab, a group that pledged allegiance to ISIS around April 2018.
Many expats work at the gas project run by Total with reports stating that this includes a number of South Africans. Total said over the weekend that it would be calling off its planned resumption of construction after the attack while reducing its workforce to a minimum.
Source: Getty Images
According to News24, witnesses said that the militants fired shots at people and buildings, leaving a number of bodies scattered on the streets. The report continued by saying that the terror group has caused loss of lives and fear in the town for three years.
eNCA reported that a total of seven people were killed while a rescue option to evacuate them from a hotel was stopped. Foreign nationals residing in Mozambique were also caught in the fearful situation but there has been no confirmation of how many were killed.
At the moment, one South African has been confirmed dead due to the attack. Adrian Nel's mother told Reuters that her husband and other son hid with her son's body in a bush until the morning after the attack. Her husband and other son managed to escape to safety in the town of Pemba.
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa held an urgent meeting with the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula over the escalating crisis unfolding in neighbouring Mozambique.
Militants from Al-Shabaab have wrestled control of the control of Palma in the Cabo Delgado province from the government. Palma was transformed into a warzone as an estimated 100 jihadist fighters assaulted the town.
17 vehicles carrying foreign contractors fled the hotel and the convoy was ambushed en route. Only seven of the vehicles escaped, according to The Times.
The situation on the ground is very chaotic and at the moment it's impossible to quote any accurate numbers, but many people are feared dead or captured.
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Source: Briefly News
