Over 40 South Africans Accounted for After Mozambique Attacks, 10 Missing
- At least 43 South Africans have been accounted for and moved to safety following the terror attacks in Mozambique
- It is believed that around 10 others are still missing as the SA High Commission in Mozambique uses its track-and-trace system
- Those who were found were rescued by helicopters and reports have revealed that some are back home safely already
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43 South Africans have been tracked in Mozambique after the terror attacks. This was revealed by the South African High Commission in Maputo. They include two men who escaped the attack by fleeing into the bush but unfortunately a close relative was killed in the onslaught.
The duo were later rescued by helicopters. The group of people rescued were reportedly found in the Afungi area where Total, the French energy company, is based. Some of the SA citizens who were found are back home, others have been moved to safer areas.
The High Commission stated that it would carry on with its track-and-trace process to find any other South Africans who might have been affected by the attacks. It is currently unclear if there are any SA citizens still there.
Source: Getty Images
According to eNCA, it is believed that about 10 more South African citizens are still missing in Mozambique. SABC News reported that Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the attacks in the town of Palma may indicate that authorities were underprepared.
The report continued by saying that the United Nations (UN) condemned the onslaught, describing the attacks as heinous acts of violence. The UN added that it is concerned about the insurgency, which it believes is still evolving.
Previously, Briefly.co.za reported that 12 SA citizens are believed to be part of the Jihadist group that started the attacks in Palma. 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. 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.
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.
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Source: Briefly News
