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- The African Union has expressed "utmost concern" at the presence of international extremist groups in southern Africa, following attacks in Mozambique.
- AU chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat called for "urgent and coordinated regional and international action" in Palma.
- Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi however downplayed the latest attack as "not the biggest", in a province battered by an Islamist insurgency since 2017.
Addis Ababa – The African Union (AU) on Thursday called for urgent and coordinated international action after a jihadist attack that killed dozens and uprooted thousands on the northern Mozambican coastal town of Palma.
The jihadists captured Palma on 24 March, ransacking buildings and beheading residents and forcing thousands to seek safety in surrounding forest.
Dozens have been killed, more than 8 000 displaced and many more are still missing following the coordinated attack seen as the biggest escalation of an Islamist insurgency that has battered Cabo Delgado province since 2017.
In a statement, AU chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said he "condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks".
Expressing "utmost concern" at the presence of international extremist groups in southern Africa, he called for an "urgent and coordinated regional and international action".
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc held emergency talks in Harare to discuss the violence.
Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi vowed regional help, but gave no details.
Suspended operations
He said SADC would "respond in a helpful manner that we assure the integrity and sovereignty of one of our own, never to be assaulted by dissident, rebellious and non-state actor forces that undermine the democratic credentials and peace in the region".
But Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday downplayed the latest attack as "not the biggest", despite its unprecedented proximity to Africa's single biggest investment project.
Palma is around 10km away from a multibillion-dollar liquified natural gas project (LNG) led by France's Total and involving other international companies.
Total had already suspended operations and evacuated some staff in late December after jihadists launched a series of raids near its compound.
Mozambique has sent troops to Palma to try and recapture the city.
Cabo Delgado's jihadists have wreaked havoc across the province in a bid to establish a caliphate.
The insurgents are affiliated to the Islamic State group, which claimed the attack on Palma this week.
