New year, new hope for Cabo Delgado

Military claims counter-insurgency offensive in Macomia, as normal life returns in the oasis of Palma

Good afternoon and happy new year. The Zitamar Daily Briefing is back from the end-of-year hiatus, and we come straight out of the gate with two new articles on the insurgency in Cabo Delgado province. First, an English-language exclusive from Fernando Lima on his recent visit to Palma as the town attempts to rebuild and repopulate following the destructive siege in March last year. These efforts appear to be showing the shoots of success, Lima found, but an uncertain security situation still hangs over the area. 

Hope of restoring stability to Cabo Delgado may well depend, at least in part, on the results of the recently announced “Vulcão IV” operation to clear the Messalo river basin of the insurgent groups that have dug in there, which we cover in our second article of the day. The well concealed area has provided a haven for insurgents to operate with apparent freedom and its capture would count as a major setback. However, the main challenge for the security forces will be to prevent the insurgents from regrouping elsewhere, as they have so far always succeeded in doing. 

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The latest from Zitamar News:

Impressions from a lightning visit to Palma
Zitamar’s special correspondent finds a resurrected town emerging from the rubble of insurgent occupation.

FREE TO READ: FADM launches mission to destroy insurgent bases around the Messalo river
The Mozambican Armed Defence Forces have commenced new efforts to disrupt insurgent attacks in Macomia and Muidumbe districts. 

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💥 Conflict updates:

30 December 2023: Namande, Muidumbe district, Cabo Delgado
Insurgents attacked the villages of Namande, killing at least one civilian, and clashed with the Local Forces. Several people were reported wounded, houses were burned and food was looted. Civilians have evacuated the area. 

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Also in the news:

• Mozambique sworn in as a non-permanent member of the United Nations

• Opening of Mozambican and South African dams triggers flooding warnings

• Mozambican judges say terrorists should be tried by military courts