Fear halts construction of water systems in Cabo Delgado

Mozambican authorities plan to build 13 new water supply systems in Cabo Delgado this year, but fears associated with the worsening armed insurgency in that northern province are hindering the process, it was announced this Tuesday.

"So far, we've managed to complete eight. We know the situation in the province; there are areas where access is limited due to security concerns, " Moisés Zacarias, Cabo Delgado's provincial director of Public Works, told the media.

According to the official, access to water is considered "good" in safe areas of gas-rich Cabo Delgado, where the insurgency has been active since 2017. However, in areas still experiencing attacks, contractors are not participating in public works projects.

“There are times when we think the situation is under control, but then there are some outbreaks [of armed attacks], when it is like this, the fear is greater,” he adds.

Zacarias further explains that work is currently underway to install water supply systems, particularly in districts such as Nangade, Macomia, Mueda, Muidumbe, Mocímboa da Praia, Palma, and Quissanga: "These are areas where many contractors don't dare to work because they believe the security situation isn't good."

Elements associated with the extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility this week for new attacks in the districts of Chiúre and Muidumbe, Cabo Delgado, with at least five people beheaded, in a period of increasing violence in that Mozambican province.

The claim, made through Islamic State (IS) propaganda channels, states that four people were captured and beheaded in a village in Chiúre on Friday. On Sunday, another person was captured and killed in Muidumbe, also by elements allegedly belonging to the Ahlu-Sunnah wal Jama`a (ASWJ) group.

Humanitarian agencies on the ground have reported at least 34,000 new displaced people between July 20 and 25 alone, due to new insurgent attacks in Cabo Delgado, in the districts of Chiúre, Ancuabe and Muidumbe.

Most of these displaced people are currently concentrated in two schools in the town of Chiúre and are receiving humanitarian support from United Nations agencies and the Mozambican authorities.

At least 349 people died in attacks by Islamic extremist groups in northern Mozambique in 2024, a 36% increase compared to the previous year, according to a study released in February by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS).