SA Mechanic Taken Hostage By Armed Rebels in Mozambique Terror Attack
- A South African mechanic is reportedly among civilians taken hostage after insurgents raided a hunting lodge in northern Mozambique
- The attackers allegedly disabled the mobile phone mast in the area before striking the camp, a police post and a medical centre
- The hunting lodge is reportedly co-owned by Ghana national football team coach Carlos Queiroz, who said he was awaiting information
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MOZAMBIQUE - A South African mechanic is reportedly among a group of civilians taken hostage after armed insurgents stormed a hunting lodge and the nearby town of Marangira in northern Mozambique late last week.
The attack took place close to the Niassa Special Reserve, a remote area near Mozambique's troubled Cabo Delgado province. The armed group is believed to be linked to an Islamic State-affiliated insurgency that has been active in the region since 2017.
According to Sowetan, alongside the South African mechanic, two other employees from the hunting camp, including a chef, are also reportedly among those taken. Local authorities believe as many as 11 civilians could be missing in total, with residents from Marangira allegedly marched away by the insurgents.
Attack appeared carefully planned
Conservation broadcasting company Mutambo Films, along with Losaan Meiring from the Marloth & Beyond Facebook page, said they were in contact with people on the ground as the situation continued to develop. Both indicated that the available information pointed to a carefully coordinated operation.
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The insurgents reportedly moved west from Cabo Delgado over an extended period before launching the attack. Before striking, they allegedly disabled the mobile phone mast servicing the area, cutting off all communication. The group then targeted the hunting camp, a local police post and a medical centre in Marangira.
Three American guests who had been staying at the camp escaped unharmed because they were out hunting when the attack took place. They were later evacuated from the area by air, according to Reuters. Initial reports about fatalities and abductions could not be independently verified.
Area has history of insurgency
The hunting lodge is reportedly co-owned by Carlos Queiroz, the current coach of the Ghana national football team. Queiroz told Reuters that he had no direct information from the site and was waiting to hear from military and security authorities.
It remains unclear whether the three hunting camp employees, including the South African mechanic, are counted among the 11 civilians feared abducted or represent an additional number of missing persons.
Mozambique has been battling an Islamic State-linked insurgency in Cabo Delgado for nearly a decade. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people across the region. Details surrounding the fate of the South African mechanic and the other missing civilians are still emerging.
Rebels in the DRC continue fighting despite truce
Previously, Briefly News reported that clashes continued after the 1700 GMT deadline to cease fire near Bwiza, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the provincial capital Goma, local people told AFP by telephone in 2022. M23 is at Bwiza," an administrative source said, adding that the rebels had taken over several villages in the area. During the morning, fighting was also reported near Bwiza, the former stronghold of former Congolese Tutsi rebel leader Laurent Nkunda who operated there in the 2000s.
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Source: Briefly News
