A South African mechanic held captive by Islamic State-linked insurgents in Mozambique for nearly a month has been released unharmed, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old man was freed on Sunday following his capture during a brutal raid on a hunting camp in northern Niassa province on 3 September. He is now on his way back home to South Africa.
The mechanic worked at the Mozambique Wildlife Adventures camp near Nanlixa village in Marrupa district when about 30 insurgents attacked the facility. The attackers killed one woman and injured a defence force member during the raid, which also saw them torch the camp, a health centre, a police post and a mobile phone mast.
Mozambican police said 11 people were taken during the attack. News agency Zitamar reported that a ransom of about R950 000 was privately paid to free three people who worked at the camp. Seven others, including children, remain missing.
The South African government said it did not negotiate or pay any ransom for the release of hostages. The High Commission in Maputo worked with Mozambican authorities and other stakeholders to secure the mechanic’s release.
Insurgents expand reach
The attack marked a worrying expansion of Islamic State-linked violence from neighbouring Cabo Delgado province, where insurgents have waged a brutal campaign since 2017. The group moved into Niassa seeking supplies after facing pressure from security forces in Cabo Delgado.
Security analysts tracked about 150 insurgent fighters as they moved westward from Montepuez district in Cabo Delgado through informal gold mining areas before crossing into Niassa’s Marrupa district in late August. The September attack on the hunting camp occurred during the peak July to November hunting season.
The insurgents stole 15 vehicles during the raid and caused about 3 000 people to flee their homes. Some of the stolen vehicles were later found abandoned.
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Gas-rich region
Cabo Delgado has enormous gas reserves that have attracted energy giants including France’s TotalEnergies, Italy’s ENI and US company ExxonMobil. The ongoing insurgency has disrupted development of these resources.
The insurgents have carried out attacks on civilians and security forces that included beheadings and abductions. Mozambique continues to rely on support from the Rwandan Defence Forces to counter the broader insurgency.
The United Kingdom and United States have both issued travel warnings against visiting the Mecula and Marrupa districts of Niassa province, citing specific threats to upscale hunting lodges.
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