Fishermen escape terrorist captivity in Mozambique

Three fishermen have escaped captivity in the Mocímboa da Praia district of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. The men were part of a group of 20 fishermen abducted after their vessel was hijacked. They were reportedly held near the Messalo River before successfully escaping and returning to their families in the Milamba neighborhood.

The abduction occurred shortly before a military engagement in which the Mozambican Navy killed at least three terrorists. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) has been increasing security measures in the Mocimboa da Praia, Muidumbe, and Macomia districts, which has constrained both commercial and humanitarian activities.

ACLED reports that ISM targets civilians to drive displacement, generate income through ransoms, and seek retribution. In August and September, eleven attacks on civilian communities were recorded, including five incidents involving abductions and ransom demands. Additionally, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted that attacks in Cabo Delgado during this period prompted more than 700 people to flee.