British Contractor's Heroism and Terror in Mozambique's 'Battle of Palma'

The 'Battle of Palma,' a brutal three-day siege by ISIS-linked militants in March 2021, saw hundreds killed and foreign nationals trapped in the Amarula Hotel, a fortified compound in northern Mozambique. The attack, which began on March 24, 2021, overwhelmed local security forces and left a trail of destruction in the coastal town.

Among those caught in the chaos was 58-year-old Philip Mawer, a British project manager for RA International. Details emerging from his inquest at Winchester Coroner's Court this week shed light on his final hours and the desperate fight for survival of those inside the hotel.

Siege of the Amarula Hotel

The militants, armed with rocket launchers, rifles, and machetes, attacked Palma from three directions. The town was filled with foreign contractors working on a $20 billion gas project led by French energy giant TotalEnergies, as well as thousands of refugees fleeing violence in other parts of Cabo Delgado province. Many of these individuals sought refuge at the Amarula Hotel.

Initially, around 200 people inside the hotel could communicate with the outside world, but telephone and internet lines were soon cut. They used white fabric to mark the word 'HELP' in the courtyard in an attempt to signal passing aircraft.

The attackers were part of an ISIS-linked group known locally as Al-Shabaab, though distinct from the Somali organization of the same name. By the second day of the assault, mortar bombs were landing near the hotel's fence, and bullets were striking the building. The defense of the area had passed from the Mozambican military to the Dyck Advisory Group (DAG), a South African private security firm.

Desperate Evacuations and a Heroic Refusal

DAG began airlifting people from the hotel in helicopters that could carry six individuals at a time. On the second day, 23 people were evacuated. Philip Mawer was offered a seat on one of these flights but reportedly declined, prioritizing women and children.

On the third morning, the hotel manager, Timothy Roberts, was evacuated with his two German Shepherd dogs. Roberts later defended his departure, stating he was acting on the owners' orders. The pilot of the evacuation helicopter maintained that the dogs were placed in the cargo hold, not occupying passenger seats.

As food and water supplies dwindled and the militants encircled the hotel, approximately 170 remaining residents decided to attempt a breakout in a convoy of 17 vehicles. Mr. Mawer participated in this convoy but chose to drive a less defended vehicle.

Ambush and Aftermath

The convoy was met with heavy gunfire from insurgents as it exited the hotel gates. Mr. Mawer was killed by an RPG, and Adrian Nel, a South African contractor, was also killed in the ambush. Nel's father and brother, who were also in the convoy, managed to escape and hide in the bush.

Nick Alexander, a dual British-South African citizen who was in the final vehicle of the convoy, described the chaos and the decision to flee as being provoked by the militants' presence at the south of the compound and the manager's earlier departure. Alexander and two others hid in the dense vegetation for two days before being rescued.

Only seven of the 17 vehicles in the convoy reached safety. An estimated 40 to 50 people were inside these vehicles, many injured. At least seven were confirmed killed in the ambush, but witness accounts suggest the number was higher.

Survivors scattered into forests and mangroves, with many later being picked up by DAG mercenaries. While most hotel occupants were rescued by the end of that week, soldiers took several weeks to clear remaining terrorists from Palma. During this period, gruesome discoveries were made, including the bodies of 12 individuals with their hands tied behind their backs and their heads severed.

The final death toll remains unestablished, but it is believed that over a thousand people, predominantly Mozambican civilians, were killed or abducted during the insurgency.

Scrutiny of Corporate Response

In the aftermath, TotalEnergies faced scrutiny for allegedly hindering a rescue attempt and failing to provide sufficient fuel for evacuation helicopters. During Mr. Mawer's inquest, it was argued that the company acted contrary to his interests and that more lives could have been saved with adequate fuel provision.

TEPMA1, a TotalEnergies subsidiary, denied responsibility, stating it could not release fuel to DAG. The inquest coroner, Jason Pegg, concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish corporate responsibility for evacuation plans or rescues. He acknowledged that individuals might have hoped for corporate intervention but stated there was no legal responsibility for such actions, citing the unanticipated speed of the attack. Addressing Mr. Mawer's brothers, the coroner described him as a