Peter Bofin on Islamic State's church attack in Mozambique’s Ancuabe district

Islamic State claimed responsibility on Friday for an attack on a Catholic church compound in northern Mozambique's Ancuabe district. No fatalities have been confirmed.

Islamic State affiliated insurgents attacked two villages in the district yesterday, Thursday 30 April,  first Nacole and then Minheuene where they burned the church and other properties in the church compound. There are unconfirmed reports of two beheadings in Minhenue. 

Peter Bofin, Senior Southeast Africa Analyst at ACLED said: 

"The insurgents had been seen around the district for several days — they were particularly active near a local artisanal gold mine, where they actually came to blows with the Mozambican military on the 26th.  Local sources have told us that the group said they were moving on to an informal gemstone mining area.  That part of Ancuabe district is home to two big gemstone mining operations there, and we’ve heard reports that one of them has already pulled its staff out.

This is part of a repeated pattern in southern Cabo Delgado of Islamic State and its affiliates using targeted violence to civilians to flee. The burning of the church will have served this purpose and was likely with a view to attracting international attention. Church attacks are rare and account for no more than 6% of violent events in this area of Mozambique - making this event very unusual and probably designed to attract international attention.”