Islamic State (ISIS) Claims Attack On Indian-Owned Ruby Mine In Mozambique

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November 10, 2022

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Issue 363 of the Islamic State (ISIS) weekly magazine Al-Naba', released on November 3, 2022, contained the first official claim of responsibility for an October 20 ISIS attack on a ruby mine belonging to the Gemrock mining company and located near Montepuez, Cabo Delgado province, northeastern Mozambique.[1]

Gemrock, the second largest ruby miner in Mozambique, is a subsidiary of the Indian group Diacolor International DMCC, and acquired the Montepuez ruby mine, one of the largest in the world, in 2019.[2]

Al-Naba' noted that "great financial losses" were caused to the mining company, which "steals the riches of Muslims," after the company's vehicles and equipment were burned. The claim for the attack on the mine appeared in the magazine together with a series of claims for other recent attacks against Christian villages in the same area.

On November 10, ISIS released photos from the attack, showing the operatives entering the mining site, and machinery on fire.[3]

A press release issued by Gemrock on October 23[4] described the course of the attack: "In the early hours of 20th October, Gemrock’s Mozambique operations were attacked by a group of heavily armed insurgents. In a short span of about thirty minutes, these armed insurgents torched the heavy machinery equipment, vehicles, living accommodations and some of the other key infrastructure at the Gemrock operations located near Montepuez in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique. Despite the intensity of the attack, thanks to Gemrock security team, they could successfully evacuate all their personnel from its site without any harm or injuries of any sort." The press release thanked the Mozambique army for reaching the site swiftly and averting "what could have been a much bigger loss to both life and assets," adding that none of the operatives could be apprehended.

In its press release, the company declared its suspension of activities in Mozambique "after investing millions of dollars." Neighboring ruby mining companies Gemfields and Fura were also affected by the attack, which caused "panic and chaos" among their workers. Nearby villages, where many Mozambican Gemrock employees had worked, were evacuated, and their residents "may never return to their homes." 

On June 8, 2022, ISIS operatives in Mozambique attacked a graphite mine belonging to the Australian company Triton in the Ancuabe District of Cabo Delgado Province, killing two men guarding the facility.[5]

 


[2] Diamondworld.net, February 7, 2019.

[3] Telegram, October 10, 2022

[4] Clubofmozambique.com, October 24, 2022.


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