From The Religion Of Peace

Mozambique: Jihad group pursues “government of Allah,” massacres 52 in “cruel and diabolical” rampage

APR 24, 2020 9:00 AM BY CHRISTINE DOUGLASS-WILLIAMS14 COMMENTS

Two months ago, Christian Post reported that “over 100,000 people have been displaced and at least 700 have died in the majority-Christian country of Mozambiquesince 2017, as the spread of radical Islamic extremism in Africa is starting to plague the continent’s southeast region.”

Then at the end of March, the Islamic State raided the town of Mocimboa da Praia in Cabo Delgado province — the location of liquid natural gas projects worth $60 billion. The jihadis “took over the town in the pre-dawn raid, destroying various infrastructure and burning vehicles,” but then they withdrew their presence later that night, clearly planning to return again.

Jihad Watch reported at the time that although the town reportedly returned to calm, this likely wasn’t the end of such raids.

Then days ago, reports emerged that “a shadowy Islamist group that has terrorised northern Mozambique for more than two years has suddenly become more brazen, unmasking its fighters and openly declaring its goal of turning the gas-rich region into an Islamic state.” The expressed goal was to establish “a government from Allah” and to “apply Islamic law.”

Now, jihadists continue to step up attacks in their endeavor to establish an Islamic caliphate in the gas rich region. They rampaged through Xitaxi in Muidumbe district and “tried to recruit young people to join their ranks, but there was resistance.” This further provoked their rage, and they “indiscriminately killed – cruelly and diabolically – 52 young people.” Most were either shot to death or beheaded.

From the Sahel region to Mozambique, Islamic State- and al Qaeda-affiliated jihadists have been expanding their operations, and they will continue to infiltrate refugee streams into Europe once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

“Islamist group kills 52 in ‘cruel and diabolical’ Mozambique massacre,” by Jason Burke, Guardian, April 22, 2020:

An Islamist extremist group in northern Mozambique has killed dozens of villagers in its most bloody attack.

More than 50 people were massacred in an attack in Xitaxi in Muidumbe district after locals refused to be recruited to its ranks, according to police cited by local media. Most were either shot dead or beheaded.

“The criminals tried to recruit young people to join their ranks, but there was resistance. This provoked the anger of the criminals, who indiscriminately killed – cruelly and diabolically – 52 young people,” police spokesman Orlando Mudumane told the state-owned broadcasting service.

The attack occurred more than two weeks ago but details have only emerged now.

Militants have stepped up attacks in recent weeks as part of a campaign to establish an Islamist caliphate in the gas-rich region, seizing government buildings, blocking roads and briefly hoisting a black-and-white flag carrying religious symbols over towns and villages across Cabo Delgado province. The flag is also used by Isis and other extremists.

In March, the insurgents briefly occupied the centre of Mocimboa da Praia, a district headquarters, burning government facilities, including a barracks, and brandishing banners of affiliation to the so-called Islamic State.

A day later a second town was raided and the district police headquarters badly damaged. Those attackers too carried an Islamic State flag. Twenty to 30 members of Mozambique’s security forces were killed in both attacks, observers said.

Local security forces suffer from poor training, minimal equipment and low morale. Attempts to reinforce with expensive foreign mercenaries do not appear to have been effective…..