Pemba, Mozambique, Sept. 17, 2026 (Lusa) - At least 11 hectares of farmland were set alight in the lower part of the village of Lutete, in the Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, an act which residents attribute to the armed group of alleged terrorists operating in the region.

According to sources, the area – which was planted with bananas, sugar cane and sesame – in the region of Muidumbe was completely burnt down in a fire started on Monday, prompting farmers to flee.

«They burnt a lot of things,» reported a source from Muidumbe.

As well as fleeing, the farmers fear a period of famine in the area due to the attacks by these groups and the destruction of the productive land.

«It's sad because it's a source of income that many families have lost, and this could lead to famine,» the source noted.

Most farmers have abandoned the area for fear of attacks, whilst regional authorities have already indicated they will deploy the communal militia to bolster security.

The province of Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, which is rich in natural gas, has been facing an armed insurgency since October 2017 by groups associated with Islamic State, which has resulted in more than 6,600 deaths and 1.2 million displaced people, according to figures from international organisations.

The neighbouring provinces of Niassa and Nampula have also been experiencing incursions by these groups since April last year.

RYCE/AYLS // AYLS

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