In a statement circulated today, terrorist organization IS claims responsibility for the bloody capture of the city. “ISIS fighters have taken control of the strategically important city of Palma and killed more than 55 Mozambican soldiers,” the statement said. The Maputo government spoke of seven dead yesterday and today confirmed that the battle is still ongoing.
Thousands of people are fleeing the port city of Palma, in the north of Mozambique. The city fell to armed jihadists this weekend. The UN and aid agencies are trying to come to the rescue of the refugees. According to the British newspaper The Guardian at least 60 people are still missing, mostly foreigners working in Palma.
The city is located in the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado. The French concern Total is involved there in a gas extraction project involving almost 17 billion euros. The company has brought about 1,000 employees of another company in the vicinity to safety.
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