A call has gone out to shipowners not to force crew changes in northern Mozambique while seafarers are at risk of attack or kidnapping by violent terrorist groups operating in the region.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has added its call to the Norwegian Maritime Unions (NMU) for a crew change suspension until the threat to seafarers’ lives reduces along the Mozambique coast.
The NMU has written to the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) asking the body’s members to avoid the province of Cabo Delgado since violence escalated in recent weeks due the growing power of terror organisations such as ISIL-affiliated Ansar-al-Sunna and local cells of al-Shabab. At least 51 children were kidnapped by non-state armed groups in the area in the last year, Save the Children reported.
The ITF has called on shipowners to steer clear of the conflict area, and to issue instructions to their ship management firms and manning agencies to do likewise.
“The security situation in Cabo Delgado is dire,” said Johnny Hansen, president of the Norwegian Seafarers’ Union, which is one of the three unions that form the NMU. “Foreign workers are being targeted by terrorists, and seafarers will be no exception. Their lives are in danger.”
Mozambique’s maritime unions are supporting the call for seafarers and international workers to avoid Cabo Delgado while the situation remains volatile. Other parts of Mozambique’s coast remained relatively safe to perform crew changes, ITF Africa regional secretary Mohammed Dauda Safiyanu said, and this includes Beira, Nacala and Maputo.
Last Wednesday the Southern African Development Community agreed to deploy troops to Mozambique to combat the insurgents operating in Cabo Delgado.
