Cyclone Idai: Aid workers scramble to help victims in Mozambique

In just three years, an Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique has killed an estimated 2,600 people. Last week's attack on the town of Palma, which lasted days, should worry neighboring countries, experts say.

Has jihad incorporated really opened a branch in southern Africa? The Islamic State group may have claimed responsibility for the overrunning of a coastal town in northern Mozambique, but local grievances, poverty too long ignored and militants preying on a soft target seem to blame for the gruesome events that have come to a head in Cabo Delgado province. We ask about last week's attack and past efforts to repel insurgents by Mozambique special forces but also South African and Russian mercenaries.

South Africa has deployed troops in Mozambique following a jihadist attack on the northern town of Palma. This comes as French energy giant Total withdraws all staff from the region.

Mozambique's military says it is regaining territory in the northern town and gas hub of Palma, seized by Islamic State-linked jihadists last month, claiming a "significant" number of militants had since been killed in fighting.

Mozambican forces claim to have retaken the ransacked town of Palma from armed Islamist fighters. Despite this success, a glaring refugee crisis looms as regional bodies dither on providing military support.

Five presidents have conveyed for a crisis summit in Maputo to discuss how to combat rebels in Mozambique. The meeting comes just after 12 people were beheaded following an attack claimed by the "Islamic State."

French energy company Total has withdrawn workers from a $20 billion gas project in the southern African country after a nearby jihadi attack.

Since 2017, the insurgency raging in northern Mozambique has cost close to 3,000 lives and displaced more than 700,000 people. On March 23, 2021, militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group attacked the town of Palma, prompting French energy group Total to shut down its operations in the region, despite having invested more than $20 billion dollars in a liquefied natural gas project there. As this mega-project is put on hold, and the company’s staff withdrawn – at least until stability is reestablished – the Mozambican government is largely refusing outside military assistance.

More than 20,000 people are trapped in northern Mozambique two months after militants attacked the city of Palma. The oil giant Total suspended its activities in the region and the flow of displaced people to the capital of Cabo Delgado province does not stop.

Cyclones Idai, Chalane and Eloise caused severe damage to schools in Beira, destroying about 1,000 classrooms. The municipality is now using repurposed buses, or "machimbombos", as classrooms. Five of them are in a Beira elementary school.

Rwanda deployed a joint force of army and police to Mozambique's troubled northern province of Cabo Delgado to help fight Islamic State-linked militants. Not everyone is happy about Kigali's move.

At least 30 jihadists have been killed by Rwandan forces who were deployed to Mozambique. Rwanda is just one of several countries that sent troops to the country after a recent uptick in activity by Shabaab Islamist militants. Also, Tunisia has received foreign aid to help battle Covid-19. The country's hospitals are overwhelmed and running out of oxygen. Finally, FRANCE 24 speaks to Christine Amisi, one of Africa's top doctors in efforts to help rape survivors.