Incident Summary:

05/12/2020: Assailants attacked Awasse, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. No casualties were reported, though several buildings, including a hospital and a Catholic Mission, were set on fire. This was one of 11 attacks across Cabo Delgado between May 3, 2020 and May 13, 2020 in which at least 11 people were kidnapped. The outcome of the abduction is unknown. The Central Africa Province of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources also attributed the attack to Ansar al-Sunna (Mozambique).

GTD ID:
202005110026

When:
2020-05-12

Country:
Mozambique

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Cabo Delgado

City:
Awasse

Location Details:
The incident occurred in Muidumbe district.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Hospital
Nationality of Target Mozambique
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Not Applicable
Specific Description Residences
Nationality of Target Mozambique
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Benedictine Mission
Nationality of Target Mozambique
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 1
US Hostages 0
Outcome Unknown
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Hostage numbers represent a division of the total number of those abducted across incidents 202005030020, 202005040025, 202005060010, 202005090005, 202005110017, 202005110024, 202005110025, 202005110026, 202005120019, 202005130014, and 202005130015.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Ansar al-Sunna (Mozambique) No
Central Africa Province of the Islamic State Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties Unknown
Total Number of Fatalities Unknown
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured Unknown
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Mozambique to 'take stock' of death toll in May attacks," @Verdade, May 20, 2020.
"Mozambique: Benedictine mission in Cabo Delgado ransacked by armed ...," Club of Mozambique, May 19, 2020.
"Watch: Interior minister reports on defence and security forces action in Cabo ...," Club of Mozambique, May 15, 2020.