Cabo Delgado Province

Map of Mozambique with the province highlighted
Cabo Delgado Province, south of Pemba

Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique. It has an area of 77,867 km² and a population of 1,650,270 (2006).[1] As well as bordering the neighboring country of Tanzania, it borders the provinces of Nampula and Niassa. The region is an ethnic stronghold of the Makonde tribe. Macua and Mwani ethnic groups are also present.

Pemba is the capital of the province; other important cities include Montepuez and Mocimboa da Praia.

History

On 25 September 1964, Frelimo guerrillas arrived from Tanzania, with help from some individuals of the surrounding population, attacking a Portuguese administrative post in the province. This raid marked the beginning of the Portuguese Colonial War, the armed struggle between the Portuguese colonial authorities in the then Portuguese Overseas Province of Mozambique.

The province is named after Cape Delgado (Portuguese: Cabo Delgado), a coastal headland on the border between Mozambique and Tanzania, which forms the northernmost point in Mozambique.

Districts

It is divided into the 16 districts of:

and the municipalities of:

References

  1. "Total Population By Provinces - 2006". Instituto Nacional de Estatística. http://www.ine.gov.mz/Ingles/o_pais/populacao_total_prov. Retrieved 2008-06-15.