Insurgents killed two rangers in northern Mozambique, displacing thousands and reigniting conflict in a region long plagued by violence.

An attack attributed to insurgents in a remote tourist town in northern Mozambique has resulted in the deaths of at least two rangers, according to a local conservation organization. The region, known for its gas reserves, has suffered for years from insurgent violence that has led to the deaths of thousands, the displacement of over a million people, and the suspension of a major gas exploration project by TotalEnergies.

The assault occurred on April 29 within a nature reserve and claimed the lives of two anti-poaching scouts, as reported by the Niassa Carnivore Project (NCP) over the weekend. Niassa Province, which borders Cabo Delgado—a stronghold of the insurgency—is geographically remote, and news from the area can take days to emerge.

In its statement, NCP noted that its team had spent the past three days working relentlessly to locate and assist affected staff and community members, following the displacement of more than 2,000 individuals who fled into the surrounding bush. The organization confirmed that at least two additional rangers remained missing and that one ranger was “severely” injured. NCP, which advocates for peaceful human-lion coexistence, has been active in the area despite ongoing security risks.

The recent attack follows a period of nearly three years of relative calm in Niassa. It came shortly after a separate incident on April 19, in which insurgents targeted a nearby hunting safari camp. This earlier attack forced the evacuation of NCP personnel and assets from the area.

The conflict monitoring group ACLED reports that insurgents continue to operate in several districts of Cabo Delgado, using them as bases for further attacks. Since the insurgency began in 2017, at least 6,000 people—including 2,500 civilians—have lost their lives in northern Mozambique. The violence has significantly delayed the development of substantial offshore gas reserves that were discovered in 2010.

According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, more than 1.3 million people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict. A particularly devastating incident occurred in 2021, when militants launched a multi-day assault on the port town of Palma, forcing thousands to flee into the surrounding forests.