Operations at a gemstone mining site in Meluco district, Cabo Delgado province, have been suspended following a raid by suspected Islamist insurgents.According to reports cited by the Portuguese news agency Lusa, the attack occurred around midday on Wednesday, when armed militants entered the Matandane mine in the Minhanha area, approximately 30 kilometres from the town of Meluco. At the time, miners were working on-site.
“The terrorists raided the Matandane mine and the miners fled,” said a source familiar with the situation. Another source noted that the raid came just one day after local militia forces often referred to as “local forces” withdrew their personnel from the area, leaving it vulnerable. The attackers are believed to have crossed the Messalo River to reach the mine.
Although no casualties or injuries have been reported, residents in the surrounding area have fled for safety, according to local sources. The attack highlights the continued instability in northern Mozambique, where Islamist insurgency remains a serious threat. In May alone, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that over 134,000 people in Cabo Delgado were affected by terrorist violence.
