According to BBC News reporting on 1 September 2021, three people were
beheaded in a village in Ouissanga district in Cabo Delgado Province. The perpetrators are believed to belong to the Islamic State group fleeing the joint-operations being carried out by Mozambican and Rwandan troops.
Yonas Dembele, World Watch Research (WWR) analyst Comments: Jihadists in Mozambique have been responsible for carrying out several beheadings since they began their insurgency in 2017. Altogether, it is estimated that
more than 3,000 people have been killed so far and an estimated ‚ 732,227 have been displaced by the conflict (All Africa, 3 September 2021). In the last months, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Rwanda and Portugal have sent in troops, while US and EU forces are also helping the country tackle radicalization and giving military training. The Rwandan and Mozambican troops have made positive gains in the fight against militant groups. For instance, between 24 and 28 June 2021, Rwandan forces
killed 14 militants during operations launched in different areas of the north (BBC News, 6 September 2021). Similarly, on 8 August 2021, Rwandan and Mozambican troops recaptured the key port city of Mocimboa da Praia from Islamist militants."
Yonas Dembele continues: "The beheadings have come at a time when a sense of calm and security seemed to be returning to many districts in Cabo Delgado as a result of the effective joint military operations. However, it is quite evident that the situation is far from safe. There is a danger that the influence of these militants will spread to other parts of Mozambique. Should this happen, the Christian community is likely to suffer most."
