1. Ruby Mines at Montepuez Attacked
An armed group attacked the premises of a rubies mining company in southern Cabo Delgado, Montepuez district, and led to the evacuation of another, authorities and businesses announced.
The target was the Gemrock company in Namanhumbir, in the Montepuez district, where homes and vehicles were destroyed. The facilities are 12 kilometers from another company, Montepuez Rubi Mining (MRM) of the multinational Gemfields, which announced the evacuation of its installations and suspension of activities. “An attack attributed to insurgent activity has been reported at the nearby ruby mine belonging to Gemrock,” the statement said, adding that “details of the attack are being verified. As a result, MRM began the process of evacuating employees, operatives and contractors, and therefore mining operations on site have ceased.”
The UK Government portal (where Gemfields is based) has issued a travel alert, advising the avoiding of the Montepuez area in northern Mozambique. If a link to the insurgency is confirmed, this will mark an expansion of attacks in the south of Cabo Delgado, as the military offensive forces insurgents away from gas projects.
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