Following the seizure of vehicles on the EN380 highway on the 5th of this month, businesspeople in Mocímboa da Praia, Cabo Delgado, have expressed growing dissatisfaction with the persistent insecurity in the region.
According to them, the frequency of violent incidents has increased, while the State has failed to present effective responses to contain the situation.
Local sources told Mozanorte that businesspeople say they do not understand how attacks and seizures of goods continue to occur despite the presence of local and foreign security forces.
As a form of protest, businesspeople are considering boycotting meetings convened by local leaders, as a sign of dissatisfaction with what they regard as a lack of seriousness in resolving their problems.
Among the measures under discussion is the organization of a “day of silence,” which would involve the closure of stalls and commercial establishments, with the population remaining at home.
Another highly controversial issue raised within the business community concerns the conduct of the Rwandan force. They allege that this force is not focused on direct counterterrorism operations, and there are suspicions of its involvement in other types of business activities.
They therefore call for the replacement of this force with another that, they argue, would be truly capable of putting an end to the activities of terrorist groups in the region.
Businesspeople also question how a truck loaded with food products could have been intercepted despite the presence of security forces on the ground. The truck, belonging to an Indian national identified as Feroz, was transporting food supplies destined for the districts of Mocímboa da Praia and Palma.
The business community warns that if concrete and swift responses are not provided by the authorities, tensions could worsen, further affecting the local economy and undermining public confidence in State institutions. (Mozanorte)
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