The government of Mozambique has ordered the closure of three mosques in the northern city of Pemba after deadly attacks which it blames on Muslim extremists, press reports said on Tuesday. On October 5 and 6, a group of armed men attacked three police stations in Mocímboa da Praia, a town close to the Tanzanian border lying in the heart of a gas-rich region. Local police said 14 attackers were killed, along with two policemen and a civilian. Three mosques in Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province, have been shut and the government may extend the measure to other towns, provincial official Álvaro Gonçalves was quoted as saying by the government-run newspaper Notícias. The closures only affect mosques that had some contact with the group of people involved in the events of Mocímboa da Praia, Gonçalves said. Mozambican authorities have blamed the attacks on extremist Islamist sects active in the region and bent on spreading disorder.
In the wake of a surge in extremist violence in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambican authorities have closed three mosques allegedly linked to radical activities. The closures come after a series of attacks left multiple casualties, including civilians and security personnel.
The mosques, located in the districts of Mocímboa da Praia and Palma, are believed to have ties with insurgent groups operating in the region. Government officials stated that the decision was made to prevent further recruitment and dissemination of extremist ideologies.
Religious leaders and community members have expressed mixed reactions to the closures. While some support the move as a necessary step to restore peace, others warn that it could alienate local communities and exacerbate tensions.
The conflict in Cabo Delgado, which began in 2017, has displaced over a million people and claimed thousands of lives. Efforts to curb the violence, including international military assistance, have shown limited success.
Mozambique’s government has called on religious leaders to collaborate in promoting peace and countering extremist ideologies, emphasizing the importance of protecting both security and religious freedom.
