The governor of Cabo Delgado province, Valige Tauabo, launched an appeal to the armed group, inviting them to take advantage of the ongoing national dialogue to formally present what worries them and what motivates them to attack Cabo Delgado province. The appeal comes after the terrorists met with believers in a mosque in the town of Mocímboa da Praia last Tuesday (07).

"Now we have the opportunity, with this Inclusive National Dialogue, to bring people here to see where the problem lies. If anyone thinks they've been wronged in any way, then this is the time to speak out. If we are Mozambicans, then we bring these issues to the table," said the government official, stressing that the instability caused by the terrorist attacks is holding back the development of the province and burying the dreams of the local population.

The governor of Cabo Delgado's statements were made to residents of the village of Quelimane, seat of the district of Mocímboa da Praia.

Valige Tauabo, is visiting the district of Mocímboa da Praia, which has been the target of successive terrorist incursions. He is meeting with the local population with the aim of transmitting confidence and calling for greater collaboration in the fight against violent extremism.

At least 34 hotel establishments have closed their doors in Cabo Delgado province, in northern Mozambique, following the terrorist attacks and natural disasters that have affected the region since 2017. According to the authorities, the situation has reduced accommodation capacity to 125 units, with 1971 rooms and 2548 beds.

United Nations agencies reported that almost 22,000 people fled three districts of Cabo Delgado, including Mocímboa da Praia, from September 19 to 26, due to an upsurge in attacks, which in eight years have caused more than a million displaced people, according to official estimates. At the end of July, the attacks, including the destruction of dozens of Catholic churches, caused more than 57,000 displaced people in the south of Cabo Delgado province, who fled to the district headquarters of Chiúre.

(Photo DR)