Mozambique: Talk of population returning to Mocimboa da Praia is premature – Watch

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Mozambique: Talk of population returning to Mocimboa da Praia is premature – Watch

8:02 CAT | 16 Aug 2021

Screen grab: TVM

The Administrator of Mocimboa da Praia, Assuate Falume, says that it is premature to discuss the return of the population to the district less than a week since it was freed from the control of terrorist groups.

Falume, who was part of a delegation of the provincial government that visited Mocimboa da Praia on Thursday, advised former residents to be patient and to control the urge to return home, allegedly because the Defence and Security Forces are still hunting down the remaining insurgents.

“We advise you to be calm. We, as a government, will signal when the population can start to return. For now, we consider it premature,” Administrator Falume said.

During the occupation of Mocimboa da Praia about a year ago, terrorists destroyed practically all public infrastructure, including schools, commercial establishments, the district hospital, warehouses and private residences, leaving the coastal town in ruins.

Meanwhile, Mayor Chea Momba, who was part of the delegation, made a very preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the terrorists, indicating that at least 500 million meticais [around US$7.8 million] would be needed for the rehabilitation of infrastructure.

Provincial governor Valigy Tauabo was however a little more cautious, saying that a team would soon be appointed to assess the damage caused by the terrorists during their stay in the village.

Meanwhile, the Defence and Security Forces, who, in conjunction with the Rwandan military, freed Mocimboa da Praia from terrorist hands less than a week ago, continue to work on “mopping up” the district capital, deactivating terrorist hotspots.

Army Commander Cristóvao Chume announced that at least 33 bodies of terrorists had been counted as enemy casualties, while there were no losses or injuries on the side of the joint Mozambican-Rwandan force.

“So far the port town of Mocimboa da Praia has been calm, and the joint forces have been positioned across all possible lines of flight, to prevent the terrorists remaining in the town from escaping,” Commander Chume said.

Watch the TVM report.