In late March, militants linked to ISIS attacked Palma, a coastal town in Mozambique, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. The Mozambique government's response was inadequate, forcing citizens to fend for themselves. The attack centered around Palma, a strategic port town with significant global investment, including Africa's largest foreign direct investment in a natural gas project by French company Total. The insurgents targeted both the town and the gas site, causing widespread destruction and displacing hundreds of thousands. The government's attempts at rescue were limited, with controversial private military contractors like the Dyck Advisory Group conducting some evacuations. Total organized limited rescues for its employees, but the majority of Palma's population was left behind, facing ongoing violence and insecurity. The government's efforts to regain control have been insufficient, and citizens continue to rely on volunteer groups and private companies for evacuation, highlighting the ongoing crisis in Mozambique.
Here are the key facts extracted from the provided text:
1. Late March in Mozambique, militants attack a coastal town, causing thousands of civilians to flee.
2. Local insurgents, pledging allegiance to ISIS, execute a large land grab, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.
3. The Mozambique government's response to the crisis is exaggerated, and government forces couldn't defend Palma effectively.
4. Evacuations were hastily organized by private companies.
5. The government heavily censored media coverage of the conflict.
6. Al-Shabaab, a local insurgency group, emerged in Cabo Delgado in 2017, with recruitment based on poverty and corruption grievances.
7. The insurgents targeted Palma, a strategic port town with significant global investment, including a liquefied natural gas project by Total.
8. The natural gas project is controversial due to its displacement of local villages.
9. Total constructed military outposts for better security.
10. Al-Shabaab took control of key roads and parts of the coast around Palma.
11. Government forces retreated quickly during the attack, and some failed to fight off the insurgents.
12. Private military contractor Dyck Advisory Group (DAG) intervened independently.
13. DAG's presence is controversial, and Amnesty International accused them of war crimes.
14. DAG conducted rescues with limited resources.
15. Civilians in Palma were left with no government oversight or plan for evacuation.
16. Tens of thousands of people fled the area on foot or by bus.
17. Total organized a rescue for its employees, suspending its natural gas operations.
18. Only a small number of Palma's population were rescued during the attack, leaving roughly 95 percent behind.
19. Mozambique's defense ministry didn't respond to questions about their operations.
20. The country's president downplayed the severity of violence in the city.
21. A month after the attack, Palma still faced violence, fires, and damage to buildings.
22. Civilians had to rely on volunteer groups and private companies for escape due to ongoing violence.
These facts provide a concise summary of the situation in Palma, Mozambique, during the attack and its aftermath.