Hundreds Trapped in Mozambican Hotel after ISIL Attack

At least 180 people have been trapped in a hotel in Mozambique’s northern part, Cabo Delgado following an attack by ISIL terrorists.

The attack happened at Palma near a Liquefied Natural Gas station in the troubled northern region of the country.

Regional reports say many of the people who were trapped in the hotel are dead.

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Cabo Delgado has been one of Africa’s insecurity hotspots with ISIL recently taking over a terrorist organisation in the region in a move to swell its ranks.

The hotel came under siege following Mozambique’s recent terrorist attacks by ISIL. The victims have been identified as officials working with French energy company, Total, Exxon Mobil and others. Total currently runs a $20bn project in the oil-rich Cabo Delgado.

Locals fled the streets of the region for the forests on Wednesday after the attackers opened fire. Local terrorist organisation Al-Shabab (different from Somalia’s Al-Shabaab) has been fingered as the group hitting innocents alongside ISIL.

A helicopter had been seen earlier hovering over the Amarula Palma hotel where the foreign workers hid. Local sources say the aircraft was provided by a company working closely with Total.

It is still unknown which country’s nationals are trapped in the building. The Mozambican government have however promised military intervention against the problems.

Author

  • Olayide Oluwafunmilayo Soaga is a Nigerian journalist with four years of professional experience. She reports on health, gender, education and development, with a focus on impact-driven storytelling.

    She was runner-up for the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Best Solutions Journalism Award in West Africa in 2024 and a finalist for the 2025 West Africa Media Excellence Awards.

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