Horrific Reports of Islamic Attack on Mozambique Beach Town

The Amarula Hotel in the Northern Mozambique town of Palma is a small hotel frequented by foreign tourists.  On March 24, it became a scene of horror when it came under attack by Islamic militants (known locally as al-Shabab) resulting in the deaths of dozens.

Seven people (including a British contract worker) were initially killed trying to escape the militants as they laid a siege on the Amarula Hotel.  More than 180 people including foreign workers became trapped inside the Amarula Hotel.  Witnesses described a graphic scene of the nearby beach which was strewn with headless bodies.

A string of vessels converged on Palma (and the port of Pemba to the south) as people tried to escape by any means – cargo vessels, passenger ships, tugs and recreational boats.  Many who escaped the siege at the hotel hid in areas near the beach overnight and evacuated as boats began to show up the next morning. Civilians living and working in the area appeared to be coordinating the rescue effort.  The exact number of casualties in Palma (a town of about 75,000 people in Cabo Delgado province) was unclear, with many unaccounted for.

The town and beaches were strewn with bodies “with heads and without”, according to Colonel Lionel Dyke, whose private security firm, Dyck Advisory Group, is contracted by the Mozambique police in the area.  Communications with the town were cut off by the government, making it difficult to confirm early reports of the attack and the extent of the casualties, as well as complicating rescue efforts.

After a tense ten days, Mozambique's military reported that it had regained full control of the town, saying that A "significant" number of militants were killed in the counter-offensive.  Dozens of civilians were killed and at least 11,000 displaced after the invasion.  State radio reported that residents who had fled were starting to return - some to homes that were looted.

Army spokesman Brigadier Chongo Vidigal said a nearby gas plant was secure, and that Palma was secure.  "The airfield area was the only one we needed to clear and we did that. It's completely safe," Vidigal was quoted as saying.

Although some residents had begun to return, the streets remained mostly deserted.  The town's hospital, commercial banks and the state prosecutor's office were all destroyed.  The governor of the province promised to help people rebuild their lives.  "We are now moving on to the next stage, one as critical as retaking the town, whereby we will be welcoming the communities who fled to the bush," Brig Vidigal said.

Many people are now questioning why it took nearly ten days for the military to regain full control of Palma, suggesting that the militants have become strong, and government forces are struggling to contain the insurgency.