Terrorist attacks in Ankuabe: insurgents kill and set fire to church and health unit

On the afternoon of Thursday, April 30th, a group of insurgents attacked the village of Minheune, in the Meza Administrative Post, Ancuabe district, Cabo Delgado province, leaving at least one man dead and a scene of extensive destruction.

During the offensive, the attackers set fire to the Parish of Saint Louis de Montfort, belonging to the Catholic Church, as well as a local health center, completely destroying both infrastructures. The attack was confirmed on Friday by the Diocese of Pemba, which expressed deep concern about the escalation of violence in the region.

The Bishop of Pemba, Dom António Juliasse, quoted by Rádio Sem Fronteiras Utu, stated that the parish was completely destroyed, describing the episode as yet another hard blow against the religious presence in northern Mozambique.

Local witnesses report that the incursion began around 3:00 PM and was carried out by a group that had been spotted hours earlier in the fields of the village of Muaja, along National Highway No. 14. During the attack, several civilians were captured and forced to listen to intimidating and hateful speeches, according to reports gathered on the ground.

Local sources also indicate that the population panicked, fleeing to nearby wooded areas. In the following days, many displaced people sought refuge in the towns of Nanjua, in Ancuabe-Sede, and in the city of Montepuez, due to fear of new attacks.

According to data from the Diocese of Pemba, more than 300 Catholics have lost their lives since the beginning of the insurgency in October 2017. Furthermore, at least 117 churches and chapels have been destroyed throughout the years of conflict in Cabo Delgado province.