Mbamba, Mozambique – May 3, 2025 On the
night of April 29, an armed attack struck the Mariri Environmental and Training
Center and the headquarters of the Niassa Carnivore Project (NCP), located in
the southeastern area of the Niassa Special Reserve in northern Mozambique. The
attack was claimed by the Islamic State of Mozambique (ISIS-Mozambique),
marking a troubling escalation in the insurgency that has plagued the region.
According to an official statement released
by the Niassa Carnivore Project and the Mariri Environmental Center, the
assault signifies a dangerous expansion of the ongoing conflict, now reaching
one of Mozambique’s most iconic conservation areas. Renowned for its
biodiversity and vital wildlife protection efforts, the reserve has now become
a zone of fear and violence.
The NCP team had begun a partial evacuation
of the Mariri camp on April 20, following an earlier attack by the same group
on Kambako Safari on April 19. At the time of the most recent assault, which
occurred between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., NCP rangers were still stationed at
the site with support from Mozambique’s Defense and Security Forces.
The attack tragically resulted in the
deaths of two NCP rangers, Domingos Daúde and Fernando Paolo Wirsone. A third
ranger, Mário Cristóvão, was seriously injured, rescued, and has since been
evacuated to a hospital in Maputo, where he is in stable condition. Two other
rangers remain missing, and the organization continues its efforts to locate
them and support their families.
“We are all deeply shaken,” the statement
reads. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of Domingos and
Fernando, and offer our full support to the families of those still missing.
This is a moment of grief and resilience for all of us.”
The attack also triggered a mass exodus
from the nearby village of Mbamba, home to around 2,000 residents, who fled
into the bush seeking safety. Since then, NCP has worked tirelessly to ensure
the safe evacuation of staff and community members to Mecula, the district
capital.
The statement calls for solidarity from
both national and international communities: “Sharing this information is a way
to act. The names of Fernando and Domingos matter. Our missing rangers and
their families matter. Hope will only survive if we take action.”
The Niassa Special Reserve, one of the
largest biodiversity strongholds in southern Africa, now faces not only threats
to its wildlife but also to human life and the tireless efforts of those
dedicated to its protection. (Mozanorte)
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