Zitamar Daily: Insurgency threatens Nampula again

Insurgents seem poised to again cross into Nampula province; Chinese timber company defies authorities in Beira

Insurgents are once again operating on the banks of the Lúrio river which separates the provinces of Cabo Delgado and Nampula. Over the last week, they appear to have marched almost 100km south from the Gemrock ruby mine, where they destroyed a critical amount of mining equipment, and attacked several villages along the way, leaving at least three dead in their wake. 

Only two months ago, the insurgents launched a similar southern campaign from Ancuabe, through Chiure and ultimately across the Lúrio. At least 18 people were killed in the ensuing attacks in Nampula, which before this summer had been largely spared from the insurgent violence further north. Now, it looks increasingly at risk of becoming another front in the conflict. The fact that insurgents were able to cross freely into the province, despite the obvious trajectory of their movements, was a humiliation for the security forces — something recently admitted by the Ministry of the Interior. The direction of the conflict in the coming days will reveal whether lessons have been learnt. 

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Agenda:

• Today: International Conference on Capital Markets and Stock Exchanges, hosted by Mozambique’s stock exchange BVM

  • Speakers to attend from the stock exchanges of Brazil and Cabo Verde

• 19-29 October: Tanzania People's Defence Force holds field exercises in the southeastern regions of Lindi, Mtwara, and Ruvuma

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The latest from Zitamar News:

Insurgents threaten Nampula as attacks sweep through Chiure
An insurgent thrust south through the Chiure district of Cabo Delgado province has left at least three people dead in the last week, with insurgents now poised to potentially cross the Lúrio river into Nampula province

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From the Zitamar Live Blog:

Tongaat Hulett enters ‘business rescue’ proceedings
Sugar company Tongaat Hulett said this morning it has commenced 'business rescue' proceedings in South Africa.
Its Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe sugar operations "should be largely unaffected" it said.
Full statement on the Telegram channel

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💥 Conflict updates:

• 26 October 2022: Liche, Nangade district, Cabo Delgado

Insurgents attacked the village of Liche, about 5km from the administrative post of Ntamba, in Nangade district. No deaths have been reported but three members of the Local Forces were injured and over 200 homes and the market were burned. Residents of Liche and Ntamba fled, with some seeking refuge in Mueda district. 

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Also in the news:

• Chinese logging company refusing to hand over timber seized in Beira (Noticías)

• Extractives to lead economic growth in 2023 (Lusa)

• Storm cuts power to 5,000 people in southern Mozambique (Lusa)

• Climate finance a priority at Cop27, says environment ministry (Mediafax, Notícias)

• Mozambique looks to African free trade area to boost business (Mediafax, Notícias)

• $40bn Tanzania LNG to kick off in 2025 (Bloomberg)

Today’s front pages in Maputo. Photo © Faizal Chauque / Zitamar News