A jihadist raid on Mocímboa da Praia exposed the ongoing Cabo Delgado insurgency and drew controversy over mercenary conduct against civilians.
Key Facts
- Date of attack
- June 27, 2020
- Attacking group
- Al-Shabaab (Mozambican jihadist group)
- Province
- Cabo Delgado
- Mercenary group
- Dyck Advisory Group (South Africa)
- Target city
- Mocímboa da Praia
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Al-Shabaab jihadists, operating in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado Province, cited brutal crackdowns by the Mozambican government against civilians as justification for escalating attacks. The insurgency had been destabilizing the northern region for years prior to this incident.
On June 27, 2020, al-Shabaab fighters raided Mocímboa da Praia, destroying homes and killing civilians. The Mozambican government launched a counteroffensive with assistance from South African private military contractors of the Dyck Advisory Group to retake the city.
The involvement of Dyck Advisory Group mercenaries drew significant criticism due to their reported indiscriminate shooting of civilians during the counteroffensive, raising international concerns about the conduct of private military forces and the broader humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
2 belligerents