ISIS and militants died in 'brutal' attack on Mozambique' wildlife reserves
One of Africa's largest protected areas was shocked by a series of attacks by Islamic extremists who have killed at least 10 people.
Conservationists in the Niyasa Conservancy of Mozambique say that decades of work to rebuild lions, elephants and other cornerstone species are being jeopardized as conservation operations are in trouble.
On April 29, militants attacked Nyasa's buildings and killed two anti-poaching scouts. Two other scouts were missing and the other was seriously injured. The attack was later claimed by Mozambique, Islamic, that it took 10 days after another attack on a nearby safari camp, where two people were beheaded and six soldiers were killed.
According to local groups, a village of 2,000 people was displaced by violence, and all conservation efforts in the Niyasa Conservancy were suspended. Wildlife and community groups warned on Monday that the risk of violence has been under protection in the area for more than 20 years.
“The worst thing about this kind of attack is the fear factor. The attack is cruel: two carpenters killed in a safari camp were beheaded. The community's cruel fear of the attack.
Berg said the shutdown in tourism could affect the region for several years.
“The Niassa reserve is special. It is the size of Switzerland. In Africa without fences, there are few places like this, and a lot of lions, elephants and animals require a lot of range. It is one of these beautiful wilderness areas. We have been working to make it a risk because it makes it a risk because it is such a risk.
Niassa is regarded as one of Africa's most important wildlife refuges at 4.2 million hectares (10 million acres). It is home to up to 1,000 lions, 350 critically endangered African wild dogs, as well as the restoration of elephants, buffaloes and other cornerstone populations.
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Islamic State Mozambique, known locally as al-shabaab, appeared in 2017 despite having no connection to Somalia’s groups and has been displaced in northern Mozambique as activities expand. Although the group was suppressed after the attack on the city of Palma, resulting in the suspension of a major gas project by Attrolenergies, militants remain active in the country's northernmost province.
Nine conservation and safari camps have been abandoned since the attack, one of which has been destroyed by Islamic groups. Berger said emergency support is needed to restore peace in the region and prevent further loss of life. The Mozambique army is pursuing a group connected to IS.
“Obviously the first mission is to solve the problems of the insurgents and bring them out of Niassa. If we can't create peace, people can't walk to collect honey, they can't go to their fields, they can't harvest. Protectionists are impossible. Protectionists won't come. No tourists will come. It's devastating.”
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