Zitamar Mozambique conflict updates

A new Zitamar Conflict Newsletter is out: https://www.zitamar.com/insurgent-attacks-spread-across-cabo-delgado-after-battle-for-catupa/

Wednesday's firefight in Tapara may be the first armed clash between insurgents and government forces in Quissanga in well over a year https://www.zitamar.com/insurgents-clash-with-government-forces-in-quissanga/ Sign up for Zitamar's daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on WhatsApp, BlueSky, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

Insurgents split into several groups, raiding villages and gold mines and threatening movement on the two main roads linking the north and south of the province https://www.zitamar.com/insurgents-step-up-attacks-in-cabo-delgado-following-battle-for-catupa/ Sign up for Zitamar's daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on WhatsApp, BlueSky, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

Government forces have reportedly regained control of the Catupa base in Macomia district following further clashes with Islamic State-backed insurgents, according to a local source in Cabo Delgado, who said the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) of Mozambique's police force led the operation. Zitamar has not been able to independently verify the claim. The development follows weeks of heavy fighting around Catupa, where Mozambican and Rwandan forces launched an offensive in the second half of June. According to a source who spoke with Zitamar, government forces initially retook the base at the start of the offensive, having lost it to insurgents in late January 2026. Islamic State propaganda channels later claimed that their fighters had overrun the base on 5 July, killing around 11 soldiers and seizing ammunition. Mozambique's military claimed to have killed five insurgents in clashes in Catupa last month, according to a report in Lusa yesterday. The latest development, if confirmed, would mean the Catupa base has changed hands at least three times since the current offensive began around a month ago.

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Insurgents say they killed 11 government soldiers and recaptured the strategic base days after Mozambican and Rwandan forces reportedly seized it https://www.zitamar.com/islamic-state-claims-to-have-retaken-catupa-base-after-government-offensive/ Sign up for Zitamar's daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on WhatsApp, BlueSky, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

Our latest Conflict Updates newsletter is out: https://www.zitamar.com/mozambique-takes-the-fight-to-the-insurgents/

The incident prompted clashes between insurgents and security forces as Local Forces detain suspected insurgents in Muidumbe https://www.zitamar.com/insurgents-ambush-military-led-convoy-on-mocimboa-muidumbe-border/ Sign up for Zitamar's daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on WhatsApp, BlueSky, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

Mozambican and Rwandan forces this week launched an operation to recapture the Catupa base in Macomia district, central Cabo Delgado, which has been in the hands of Islamic State-backed insurgents since the end of January. According to Zitamar sources, the forces began coordinated action around 27 June, five days after insurgents struck the nearby Namabo military position, killing some five soldiers. Sources describe a helicopter strike on an insurgent position near Cogolo on 28 June, followed by a significant security presence across the Mucojo–Macomia road and an FDS-led assault on the Catupa base itself. Images from NASA Firms (such as that featured above), the US space agency’s satellite imaging tool to monitor fires on earth, show fires along the N380 road to the west, the Macomia-Mucojo road to the south, the Mucojo-Quiterajo road and to the south of Messalo. The fires don't cover the dense forest but the surrounding area, suggesting that insurgent defensive lines outside the forest have been targeted. A resident of Macomia town who spoke with Zitamar claimed that government forces had recaptured the base and inflicted heavy insurgent casualties. Zitamar has not been able to verify this independently. Catupa, a forest area to the east of the N380 road in Macomia district, has been an insurgent stronghold since 2021. The insurgents have repeatedly laid improvised explosive devices on the surrounding roads to restrict the movement of Mozambican and Rwandan forces. Sign up for Zitamar's new newsletter dedicated to the Cabo Delgado conflict, in the 'Account' section in the top right corner of www.zitamar.com

Zitamar’s new regular newsletter providing updates on the conflict in northern Mozambique https://www.zitamar.com/zitamar-cabo-delgado-update-26-june-2026/ Sign up for Zitamar's new newsletter dedicated to the Cabo Delgado conflict, in your 'Account' section in the top right corner of www.zitamar.com

At least five soldiers killed in overnight attack on Namabo position, Islamic State claims https://www.zitamar.com/insurgents-attack-namabo-military-position-in-macomia/ Sign up for Zitamar's new newsletter dedicated to the Cabo Delgado conflict, in your 'Account' section in the top right corner of www.zitamar.com

Two sailors survived after a naval vessel capsized between Matemo and Ibo islands during rough weather, while a separate shipwreck near Vamizi Island claimed two civilian lives https://www.zitamar.com/nine-feared-dead-after-mozambican-navy-boat-sinks-off-cabo-delgado/ Sign up for Zitamar's daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on WhatsApp, BlueSky, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

A man was shot dead on Tuesday night in Napulubo, on the outskirts of Macomia town, after armed men believed to be islamist Insurgents raided a house and abducted at least two children, according to local reports. The attackers reportedly arrived at around 21:00-22:00, apparently looking for a state employee. When they did not find him, they broke into his stall, taking goods and cash estimated at MZN 10,000 ($155). The armed men then entered the house and took two male children, while a woman managed to escape. The man was killed when he tried to intervene and rescue the children, local sources said. The children had not returned by Wednesday afternoon.

Suspected Islamic State fighters attacked a Mozambican military position at Namabo, near the village of V Congresso in Chai administrative post, Macomia district, on the night of Monday 22 June, local sources told Zitamar. Several soldiers are reported to have abandoned the position, with some reaching the town of Macomia on foot the following morning. The number of casualties is unknown. Namabo is a permanent FADM position roughly 4km east of the village of V Congresso, which sits on the N380 highway. The last attack on the Namabo position was on 31 January 2026. Sign up for Zitamar's newsletters, including our new newsletter dedicated to the Cabo Delgado conflict, in your 'Account' section in the top right corner of www.zitamar.com

Islamic State-backed insurgents moving across northern Cabo Delgado on 19 June told residents of Cagembe, in Quissanga district, that the village would not be targeted, but that the fighters intended to concentrate their activities in Ancuabe, Meluco and Chiúre, according to a local source. Two groups are reported to have set out from Mucojo, in Macomia district, heading toward Ancuabe, passing through Namaluco before reaching Cagembe, where they met a third group arriving from the direction of Ancuabe and Meluco. One group then returned to Mucojo, while the other split in two, surfacing in the village of 25 de Maio, near the Bilibiza administrative post, and at 19 de Outubro by the N380 highway.

Insurgents are likely making their way back toward their traditional stronghold of Macomia district https://www.zitamar.com/insurgents-regroup-in-quissanga-after-southern-incursion/ Sign up for Zitamar's daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on WhatsApp, BlueSky, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

Traditional militia without firearms pursued insurgents who had attacked a village in Chiúre district https://www.zitamar.com/42-naparama-fighters-buried-in-mass-grave-after-chiure-massacre/ Sign up for Zitamar's daily briefing email here Follow Zitamar on our Telegram Channel, on WhatsApp, BlueSky, Facebook, and Linkedin ...to keep abreast of all the latest developments in #Mozambique

The Islamic State-aligned news agency Amaq has released a video of the moment a military vehicle was blown up on the Macomia-Mucojo road on Monday, 11 May. In a separate publication in its propaganda channels, the Islamic State (IS) said the vehicle hit belonged to the Rwandan army, contrary to Zitamar's report yesterday which said it was a Mozambican military vehicle. IS also claimed that the explosion caused fatalities as well as injuries. The video is attached.

💥 Islamic State-backed insurgents carried out two incursions in Macomia district yesterday afternoon, according to local reports. Fighters entered the settlements of Onumoz and Chicomo where they reportedly abducted two men. One of them managed to escape to the nearby village of Licangano, where he recounted his story — leading residents of that village to flee to the town of Macomia.

Suspected Islamic State-backed insurgents shot dead a man who was out hunting on Monday afternoon in Macomia District. The victim was part of a four-man hunting party from Nguida village which was spotted by a group of insurgents. The attackers opened fire, killing one man while the other three escaped. Sources say the gunmen are believed to be the same group that attacked Nkoe village on Friday, 10 April. After the shooting, the fighters were seen heading towards Chicomo village, also in Macomia. There are concerns they could move into neighbouring Meluco District as early as Tuesday morning.