A South African man is among up to 20 workers abducted after suspected Islamic State-linked insurgents attacked a hunting camp in northern Mozambique, according to South Africa’s foreign ministry.
The attack took place last week near Marangira in Niassa Province, an area that has increasingly been affected by militant activity spreading from neighbouring Cabo Delgado.
South African worker among those abducted
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said the abducted man is 30 years old and was one of five South Africans working at the wildlife reserve.
Of the other four South Africans, two have returned to South Africa while two remain safe in Mozambique. South African embassy officials are working with Mozambican authorities to monitor the situation and try to establish the whereabouts of those abducted.
Camp attacked and burned
The insurgents reportedly looted and burned the hunting camp before leaving the area. Vehicles and other infrastructure were also damaged.
Mozambican police reported that at least 11 people, including children, were abducted, while South African authorities put the number of workers abducted at up to 20. The difference appears to be because the two authorities are counting different groups of victims.
At least one person was killed and another was injured, according to local police.
The attack also reportedly damaged a health centre, police post and telecommunications infrastructure, while thousands of residents fled the area. Around 2,000 displaced people were initially given shelter, according to Mozambique’s state news agency.
Militants linked to Islamic State
The attackers are believed to be linked to Islamic State Mozambique, an insurgent group that has operated mainly in Cabo Delgado since 2017.
The conflict has killed thousands of people and displaced more than one million, according to the United Nations. Although Niassa has experienced fewer attacks than Cabo Delgado, the latest incident demonstrates that the militants can still travel significant distances and attack targets outside their traditional strongholds.
Security forces are now patrolling nearby forests as authorities search for information about the abducted workers.
Americans evacuated
The attack also prompted the evacuation of three U.S. citizens from the area. The U.S. Embassy has warned Americans against travelling to the Niassa Special Reserve and areas close to the Niassa-Cabo Delgado border because of the security threat.
Security analysts say the attack may have been an isolated raid rather than evidence that militants have established a permanent presence in Niassa. However, it highlights the group’s continued ability to move through rural areas and strike vulnerable locations.
