Mozambique Access Snapshot - Cabo Delgado Province - January 2024

In January 2024, incursions by non-State armed groups (NSAGs) in Macomia, Mecufi, Metuge, Mocímboa da Praia,
Muidumbe, and Quissanga displaced over 8,500 people, with the majority relocating within Macomia (4,250) and Muidumbe (880). Some crossed district lines for safety, notably from Mocimboa da Praia to Mueda (1,440), Muidumbe to Mocímboa da Praia (103), and Quissanga/Macomia to Ibo (117).

NSAGs looted food supplies and other goods, destroyed public infrastructure including health facilities, schools, and burned homes. While in some instances, NSAG operatives warned civilians against collaborating or reporting them to authorities, in other attacks civilians were killed; abduction and kidnappings of women and children was reported. An NSAGs attack in Chibanga village (Mocímboa da Praia) on 7 January, resulted in the killing of several civilians, including an off-duty humanitarian worker. Following the incident, travel restrictions form district headquarters to Mbau sub-district were recommended by security forces for the civilian populations and humanitarian workers in Mocimboa da Praia for a few days until the re-establishment of security in access roads.

On January 12th and 28th, local curfews were put in place in Mueda and Palma. On January 29th, NSAGs set up a checkpoint on R766, between Macomia and Mucojo. The presence of NSAGs operatives, resulted in the temporary suspension of humanitarian activities in Quissanga, Metuge, and Mecufi due to staff relocation.
In January, localized flooding due to heavy rains affected public infrastructure in Chiure, Macomia, and Mueda districts.

In Macomia, road access was impacted between N'gapa and Negomano border (road N381). The water levels in Montepuez and Messalo Rivers compromised bridge crossings on Metuge-Mahate road (R762) and Bilibiza-Mahate road (R767), the Muaguide bridge,and Miangalewa bridge on road N380. The destruction of infrastructure and closure of main supply roads forced humanitarian partners to using alternative longer routes such as the Sunate -Montepuez -Mueda route, which increased the time and the cost of transport of supplies. Damage on N380 which links all the districts in the north of the province, had the greatest impact on the districts of Mueda, Palma, and Mocimboa da Praia.

In Namuno district, a riot related to cholera misinformation led to the burning of a community leader's house in Papai Sede. This incident, following a similar one in Chiure in December, instilled fear among health workers, disrupting cholera response efforts.