Armed insurgents have once again brought terror to the district of Chiúre in northern Mozambique, occupying the villages of Mazeze and Chiúre-Velho and setting fire to homes, prompting a massive flight of residents into the surrounding bush and nearby areas.
According to local sources cited by the Moz24h news outlet, the attackers arrived in Mazeze on Wednesday, a village located approximately 30 kilometres from the district capital. Witnesses say the militants torched several homes and sowed panic among the population. The violence reportedly continued into Thursday, with fresh attacks targeting Chiúre-Velho, where additional homes have been consumed by flames.
Though no official fatalities have been confirmed, the situation on the ground is described as dire. Fearing for their lives, most villagers fled their homes, seeking refuge in forests and on the outskirts of the district headquarters.
Tensions have also spread to Milamba, a primary education zone (ZIP) located roughly 10 kilometres from Chiúre town. Witnesses report heavy military presence and troop movements as Defence and Security Forces (FDS) deploy in an effort to repel the attackers.
This marks the second time in less than two years that these communities have come under assault. In 2024, similar attacks on Mazeze and Chiúre-Velho saw two teachers abducted, although they later managed to escape.
Today’s assault also included an attack on the administrative post headquarters of Chiúre-Velho — the first time this strategic post has been targeted. The building has reportedly been burning since 11 a.m. following the incursion by armed groups.
The latest wave of violence comes amid a series of escalating terrorist incursions across Cabo Delgado. Between Sunday and Tuesday, insurgents struck the neighbouring district of Ancuabe, attacking the villages of Nanduli and Natocua. During those raids, militants destroyed a fenced football field, a shelter used for brewing traditional alcohol, and a home believed to belong to a member of the local defence force. In a particularly brutal act, six farmers were beheaded, a massacre that has deeply traumatised local communities.
These attacks underscore the deteriorating security situation in Cabo Delgado, where, despite the ongoing presence of security forces, rural communities remain dangerously exposed to recurrent insurgent violence.
