Page 6 - aruba-today-20221017

A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 17 october 2022
Mozambique jihadi violence spreads despite military effort

By TOM GOULD among those killed.
Associated Press The United Nations High
NANJUA, Mozambique Commission for Refugees
(AP) — Fleeing behead- said it "considers security
ings, shootings, rapes and conditions to be too vola-
kidnappings, nearly 1 mil- tile in Cabo Delgado to fa-
lion people are displaced cilitate or promote returns
by the Islamic extremist to the province," in a state-
insurgency in northern Mo- ment released earlier this
zambique. month.
The 5-year wave of jihadi "People who have lost ev-
violence in Cabo Delgado erything are returning to ar-
province has killed more eas where services and hu-
than 4,000 people and manitarian assistance are
scuppered international in- largely unavailable," said
vestments worth billions of the UNHCR.
dollars. Those who return are met
In a sprawl of dilapidated with a mixed situation. Eco-
tents and thatched huts nomic life is beginning to
around Nanjua, a small return but basic infrastruc-
town in the southern part of ture and public services are
Cabo Delgado province, still lacking. Few schools are
several hundred families open and health services
are seeking safety from This undated photo provided on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) shows are sparse.
the violence. They say their people displaced by the conflict in Cabo Delgado Province Mozambique, next to a truck on the In the provincial capital,
conditions are bleak and outskirts of Mueda, Mozambique, waiting to be transported to reach Palma, a coastal town that Pemba, where more than
was attacked earlier this year and where some people have already gradually returned.
food assistance is meager Associated Press 100,000 displaced people
but they're afraid to return have sought refuge, an el-
home because of continu- Gas Summit in Maputo in dan Brig. Gen. Ronald Galles, the head of TotalE- derly woman sat outside
ing violence by the rebels September. He urged the Rwivanga, told the Rwan- nergies' Mozambique gas a hut where her family of
who are now going by the gathering of international dan newspaper The New project, said "the direction 15 took up residence two
name Islamic State Mo- energy executives to re- Times this month, saying is very good" but the com- years ago after fleeing an
zambique Province. sume work on their stalled normal life is returning to pany still wants to see "a insurgent attack. They sub-
More than 1.000 miles south, liquefied natural gas proj- the Palma district. sustainable economic situ- sist on a meager diet of
however, government offi- ects. Energy companies say they ation, not just in Palma but corn flour and plain rice.
cials in the capital Maputo Mozambique's army and want to see displaced peo- … all over Cabo Delgado." Unable to find work, they
are saying the insurgency is police forces, backed up ple return to the area. The Despite the heavy pres- have no money for clothes
under control and are en- by troops from Rwanda $60 billion liquefied natu- ence of Mozambican and or other essentials, she said.
couraging the displaced to and support from a regional ral gas projects led by the Rwandan soldiers, the ex- "Definitely, we want to go
return to their homes and force from the Southern Af- France-based TotalEner- tremists' attacks continue. back. This is not a home,"
energy companies to re- rican Development Com- gies and ExxonMobil were Earlier this month the rebels said the grandmother, who
sume their projects. munity, have succeeded suspended last year after spread their violence for spoke on condition of ano-
"The terrorists are on the in containing the extremist insurgents briefly captured the first time to neighboring nymity for her safety.
run permanently," Mozam- rebellion, officials say. the adjacent town of Pal- Nampula province, where With their villages further
bican President Filipe Ny- "These places have now ma in March. a Catholic mission was north now destroyed, she
usi assured investors at the normalized and civilians Speaking at the summit among the targets and says resuming normal life will
Mozambique Energy and are coming back," Rwan- in Maputo, Stéphane Le an elderly Italian nun was be even more difficult.q

Calls grow for Ethiopia peace effort as

fighting intensifies

hamat expressed "grave logue as per their agree- the Tigray forces and the
concern" in a statement ment to direct talks to be federal troops in August,
Sunday over the fighting convened in South Africa bringing an end to a cease-
and called for an "immedi- by a high-level team led by fire in place since March
ate, unconditional cease- the AU High Representative that had allowed much-
fire and the resumption of for the Horn of Africa, and needed aid to enter the re-
humanitarian services." supported by the interna- gion. Fighting has drawn in
AU-led peace talks were tional community," Maha- forces from Eritrea, on the
due to take place in South mat said in a statement. side of Ethiopia's federal
Members of the Tigrayan community protest against the conflict Africa earlier this month, but The AU statement followed military.
between Ethiopia and Tigray rebels in Ethiopia's Tigray region, were postponed because one issued late Saturday by USAID Administrator Sa-
outside the the United Arab Emirates embassy in Pretoria, South of logistical and technical a U.N. spokesman who said mantha Power called on
Africa, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. issues. The warring parties Secretary-General Antonio Eritrean forces to withdraw
Associated Press had said they were ready Guterres was "gravely con- from Tigray and urged the
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) to agree to a cease-fire as to participate in the pro- cerned about the escala- parties to observe a cease-
— Diplomats are calling on heavy fighting raises grow- cess, even though fighting tion of the fighting" and fire, warning in a tweet that
Ethiopia 's federal authori- ing humanitarian fears. persists in Tigray. called for an immediate up to a 1 million people are
ties and their rivals in the African Union Commission "The Chairperson urges the cessation of hostilities. "teetering on the edge of
northern region of Tigray Chairman Moussa Faki Ma- Parties to recommit to dia- Fighting resumed between famine" in the region. q