Mozambique army says town attacked by fighters is now secure

Official says Palma ‘under control of the state’, after being attacked by ISIL-linked fighters, but experts doubtful.

The town in northern Mozambique that ISIL (ISIS)-linked fighters attacked late last month is now secure after the military killed a significant number of fighters and cleared one final area, an army spokesman and a provincial official said. Commander Chongo Vidigal, leader of military operations to regain control of Palma, told state television TVM on Monday the area was now “safe”, although he stopped short of declaring that the army had regained complete control. “The airfield area was the only one we needed to clear and we did that this morning. It’s completely safe,” Vidigal said.