Last week on the 19th of April, ISIS-Mozambique (IS-M) Islamist terrorists raided Kambako hunting area, a tourist spot, in the Niassa Special Reserve, destroyed, murdered and looted, as they do. What’s a little more unique about this attack is that they were operating in Niassa province outside of their regular stomping grounds inside Cabo Delgado.
That they went into Niassa might indicate that IS-M is desperate to avoid security forces while making a point that they are still around and spreading out.
The terrorists did try to ransom civilians that they had captured, but the payment was refused. So, the terrorists burned the camp, as they do, and murdered people, as they do.
The latest reports say perhaps four people were beheaded, not two.
It’s curious that the terrorists burned food stocks at the lodge. Did they take some food for themselves? The report is not clear. Nonetheless, the report says the terrorists did take weapons.
Back on 12 April, 2021, I wrote a piece on LinkedIn about Niassa province and the ISIS-Mozambique war, ‘Why hasn’t ISIS Mozambique moved westward into Niassa Province (or have they)?‘ See: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-hasnt-isis-mozambique-moved-westward-niassa-province-de-melo/?trackingId=qCgfRWnCRKKGeKeqSWs3Zw%3D%3D and see the bottom of this posting.
In this piece, I predict that the terrorists could move into Niassa (out of necessity) and might have already been active in the province in various ways, e.g., tribal affiliations and help, supply source, covertly, etc.
The last time IS-M was allegedly openly operating in Niassa was in late 2021, after I wrote the LI article.
–RdM
Agência de Informação de Moçambique
Terrorists behead two and burn down luxury camp
Maputo, 28 Apr (AIM) – The group of Islamist terrorists which invaded the Kambako hunting area, in the Niassa Special Reserve, on the border between the northern Mozambican provinces of Niassa and Cabo Delgado, beheaded two people, burnt down a luxury camp and looted foodstuffs.
The attack, according to Monday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Carta de Moçambique”, which took place on 19 April, was carried out by a group of 40 terrorists. The two people murdered were workers of the camp, who were shot and beheaded.
“After capturing four workers, the insurgents demanded a ransom of three million meticais for the release of their victims, but this was rejected due to global rules against financing terrorism. After the rejection, the terrorists set fire to the main camp”, says the paper.
In a statement, Kambako Safaris, the company responsible for the management of the hunting ground, the attack – in which the terrorists also seized vehicles, destroyed an aircraft and stole weapons and uniforms from a unit of the Mozambican riot police (UIR) – has had a serious impact on the community, since the company employs 120 local residents every year.
“Kambako Safaris’ main camp, along the Lugenda River, was attacked by opportunistic bandits. What wasn’t stolen – including fuel, food stores, protective clothing and vehicles – was deliberately destroyed in a fire that razed the entire camp to the ground”, reads the note.
The document also says that the terrorists destroyed foodstuffs which had been supplied as part of the preparations for the upcoming hunting season.
“The site was recently stocked with food and drink, as well as protective clothing, boots, hats, beds and uniforms for the workers. All the fuel tanks were full of diesel, including for aircraft, and the company had just received essential equipment for its operations, including vehicles, wheels and spare parts for lorries and tractors, solar and inverter systems, radios and water pipes”, said Jumbo Moore, a founding partner of Kambako Safaris, cited in the document.
“The bandits must have seen our lorries passing through several villages over several days and devised a plan to obtain these valuable goods”, he added.
The Niassa Special Reserve contains six hunting blocks managed by private companies. Kambako is one of the largest hunting operators in Mozambique. There are fears in the industry that this incursion will eventually lead to the cancellation of game tourists’ bookings not only for the hunting blocks in Niassa, but also for other hunting areas in Mozambique, which would be a disaster for the businesses and for their employees.
Notícias relacionadas:
Terrorists attack hunting area in Niassa reserve 2025-04-25 English
Read: https://aimnews.org/2025/04/28/terrorists-behead-two-and-burn-down-luxury-camp/
Why hasn’t ISIS Mozambique moved westward into Niassa Province (or have they)?
(LinkedIn article posted April 12, 2021)
It is very interesting that so far as we know, ISIS Mozambique (IM) has not militarily moved west into Niassa province next door to Cabo Delgado in Mozambique.
Niassa has a majority Muslim population. According to reports, at present, there are a number of Niassa volunteers with IM in Cabo Delgado.
IM might already be active in Niassa but perhaps in a more covert or low-key type of way, i.e. sourcing people, working with and gaining supporters, obtaining material support or getting goods (e.g. food and supplies) etc. Niassa could be a prime location to hide weapons and other materials since it is not frontline. And it could be a good location to hide certain key IM individuals where they can be kept safer.
Nonetheless, IM might attack Niassa at some point just because they can and/or out of some necessity. IM might be biding its time to move into Niassa (because they don’t think they have the strength yet).
One possible future scenario is if IM ever ends up on the run during a major government push, I could see IM moving into Niassa out of necessity; thereby expanding the war into that province (and further along Tanzania’s border) all the while wreaking havoc.
It also could be that the reason that IM hasn’t moved into Niassa is because of location. Niassa is landlocked and further from the coast. It’s the coast that has the illicit trade routes and the big money, and it’s the coast that is keeping them supplied with what necessities they can get. Also, things like fishing help sustain them. And IM has carried out a little bit of piracy.
If anyone has any insight and/or thoughts into the Niassa situation, please share.
–RdM
Addendum I, 05 May:
Zitimar Mozambique reports –💥 Islamic State (IS) has provided evidence, for the first time, that insurgents it supports have killed Rwandan troops in Mozambique. The terrorist group has released photos following an attack on a Rwandan army patrol on 3rd May in the village of Notwe, in the Mocímboa da Praia district of Cabo Delgado.
According to an IS statement, insurgents used machine guns, killed three soldiers, wounded two others and seized two rifles.
IS released images showing at least one body dressed in a Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) uniform alongside the captured rifles, marking the first time insurgents have provided photographic evidence of RDF casualties in their claims. Previous IS statements, while they claimed Rwandan troops had been killed, did not include visual confirmation.
Local sources also reported that IS fighters kidnapped five children during the raid and looted various goods from the village.
Addendum II, 05 May:
IS-Mozambique is likely spreading out because they are feeling the pressure. Meanwhile, they have tribal affiliations and religious support in Niassa. — RdM
Zitamar News — Behind the insurgent attacks on the Niassa Special Reserve
Intelligence reports suggest that around 100 insurgents are now stationed in the mountains in Niassa province, after 40-50 attacked a hunting camp last month.
Attacks on two tourist establishments in the Niassa Special Reserve conservation area in the last month have shown that Islamic State (IS) continues to be active across northern Mozambique, potentially in large numbers.
A subscription is needed to read the report: https://www.zitamar.com/behind-the-insurgent-attacks-on-the-niassa-special-reserve/?ref=zitamar-daily-briefing-newsletter
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