Residents in Macomia, Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique on
June 11, 2018. A South African and Tanzanians are among suspected
jihadist leaders in Mozambique. PHOTO | AFP
Mozambican prosecutors on Monday named a South African and two
Tanzanians among leaders of a jihadist group operating in the northern
gas-rich region, saying the group wants to create an independent state.
Jihadist
fighters have terrorised remote communities in the gas-rich and
Muslim-majority Cabo Delgado region for more than a year, staging brazen
gun and knife attacks on civilians leaving over 100 killed and
thousands fleeing their homes.
In court documents made
available to the media on Monday, the prosecution said the group faces
charges of murder, crimes against the state, inciting civil disobedience
among a slew of other offences. It was not made clear when they were
arrested.
But in October, legal proceedings began against some 200 suspected jihadists at a jail in the provincial capital of Pemba.
All
suspects, expect the South African, "confessed that the group intends
with their armed actions to create instability and prevent the
exploitation of natural gas in Palma, and later create an independent
state, which annexes the districts of the northern region of Cabo
Delgado and the south of ...Tanzania," according to the charge sheet.
It named the South African as Andre Mayer Hanekom, 60, and the Tanzanians as Chafim Mussa and Adamu Nhaungwa Yangue.
Arrests
Hanekom, 60, was
formally arrested in August in a hospital after being seized by the
military from a restaurant in the gas industry hub town of Palma.
He
had tried to resist, was shot in the shoulder and ended up in hospital
where he was arrested, according to local police reports.
Affectionately
referred to as "baba mzungu" which translates to "white father",
Hanekom was responsible for the group's logistics, including payment of
monthly salaries equivalent to $160 and provision of medicines.
Machetes, arrows and gunpowder were found at the home of Hanekom, who has been operating a maritime business in Palma.
Machetes, arrows and gunpowder were found at the home of Hanekom, who has been operating a maritime business in Palma.
The court papers list several attacks linked to the five leaders, who include two Mozambicans.
One of the attacks was staged on October 5, 2017, in the town of Mocimboa da Praia, hitting a police station and a police post.
Three officers were killed in the attacks, and arms and ammunition were stolen.
Originally
known as Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama — Arabic for "followers of the prophet" —
the group is commonly referred to by locals and officials as
"Al-Shabaab," although it has no known link to the Somali jihadist group
of the same name.
Its militants are reportedly seeking to impose Sharia law in the Muslim-majority province.
President Filipe Nyusi has deployed heavy reinforcements to the region and vowed to eradicate the extremist group.
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