MAPUTO – Attack of the rebels on the city of Palma in the province of Cabo Delgado. At least 180 people, including expatriate workers, were trapped in the Amarula hotel in an attempt to escape the attack. The nationality of the hostages is unknown, but many are known to be foreigners. “Almost the entire city was destroyed. Many people died,” he told The Parisian a worker who escaped the assault by not providing details on the identity or nationality of the victims.
The siege of the city dates back to Wednesday afternoon. At least one hundred heavily armed militiamen set fire to this small northeastern town and ambushed expatriates fleeing the Amarula. Some hostages, he reports Daily Maverick, they managed to escape by taking refuge in the bush. Others were killed on the run, including a citizen of South Africa. Security sources, reports the South African online newspaper, claim that foreigners stranded in the hotel have been completely abandoned by the Mozambican army, probably for lack of ammunition.
The three helicopters of the South African private security company Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) were also forced to retreat due to lack of fuel, after trying to stem the attack until last night. The hostages have been at the mercy of the Islamic jihadists Ansar Al Sunna since last night, who allegedly swore allegiance to the Caliphate. The group, which according to the US has caused the death of more than a thousand civilians, and the displacement of over 650 thousand people in the North, since 2017, has not claimed any attacks for more than 5 months.
A short unverified video shoots online, presumably shot by one of the hostages, which frames the hotel lobby and terrace. In the background, the blades of a helicopter, and the voice of the man who says “the situation is critical. We do not know if we will get out alive. There is no food”.
Tell it Daily Maverick that when the siege of Palma began on Wednesday afternoon, a convoy of 17 vehicles from the hotel attempted to find a way out. The terrorists were waiting for them at the gate of the Amarula, who would have destroyed 3 vehicles and killed 7 people. “There was a car with a father, mother and son on board. The man was killed,” the sources say.
“In the name of God because no action was planned if there were intelligence warnings.” Thus the African analyst of Acled Jasmine Opperman on Twitter, which denies the link between Wednesday’s attack and the recent announcement by France’s Total of the resumption of work on the Afungi peninsula. This is the province rich in gas fields where Eni and the American ExxonMobil also operate. “It was a meticulous and therefore premeditated assault. It was decided before the Total statements,” writes the analyst.
The French oil company, which has its fields 15 km from the town of Palma, had withdrawn in December due to numerous terrorist ambushes near its plants. Wednesday announced the gradual return.
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