Ten dead in 'brutal' attacks by Isis-linked militants on Mozambique wildlife reserve
Source: The Guardian
Ten dead in ‘brutal’ attacks by Isis-linked militants on Mozambique wildlife reserve
Thousands have been displaced and conservation work halted as series of killings jeopardises decades of work in Niassa, one of Africa’s biggest protected areas
Patrick Greenfield
Sun 18 May 2025 08.00 BST
Last modified on Sun 18 May 2025 08.02 BST
One of Africa’s largest protected areas has been shaken by a series of attacks by Islamic State-linked extremists, which have left at least 10 people dead.
Conservationists in Niassa reserve, Mozambique, say decades of work to rebuild populations of lions, elephants and other keystone species are being jeopardised, as conservation operations grind to a halt.
On 29 April, militants attacked buildings in Niassa, killing two anti-poaching scouts. Two more scouts are missing and another seriously injured. The attack, which was later claimed by Islamic State-Mozambique, came 10 days after another raid on a nearby safari camp in which two people were beheaded and six soldiers were killed.
A village of 2,000 people has been displaced by the violence and all conservation work has been suspended in Niassa reserve, according to local groups. On Monday, wildlife and community organisations warned that the violence is risking more than 20 years of conservation work in the area.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/18/mozambique-niassa-militant-islamist-isis-attacks-aoe