Mozambique: SADC mission re-opening roads, restoring calm in Cabo Delgado

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Mozambique: SADC mission re-opening roads, restoring calm in Cabo Delgado

8:08 CAT | 16 Sep 2021

Photo: Supplied by SAMIM

The Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) is opening roads and restoring calm in several districts of Cabo Delgado, a statement said on Wednesday.

“SAMIM has brought calm and stability to the areas of Mueda, Macomia and Nangade, leading to the return of residents,” the statement said.

Nangade and Macomia were districts whose headquarters came under attack from rebel groups, while Mueda, the birthplace of Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, was never attacked, but is a neighbouring area to the areas of confrontation.

The mission also announced that “roads have been opened” between Pemba, the provincial capital, and Macomia, a commercial hub in the centre of the province, that being a section of the only tarred road linking the north and south of Cabo Delgado.

Read: Mozambique: SAMIM restores public confidence and economic activities return – media release

SAMIM also referred to the reopening of roads between Mueda and the localities of Awasse and Nangade, making it possible to restore “public confidence” after it was found that “the risks of attack are very low due to consistent patrols by SAMIM forces and the Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (FADM)”.

Roads were attacked by insurgents and security is allowing citizens to return to their places of residence, it adds.

SAMIM’s statement is in line with information that has been released by the Mozambican authorities, Rwandan troops supporting efforts to combat the armed insurgency, and other players on the ground.

Read: SAMIM Media Release: SADC mission in Mozambique fully operational – unabridged

Cabo Delgado is a province rich in natural gas but terrorised since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The conflict has led to more than 3,100 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and more than 817,000 displaced people, according to Mozambican authorities.

Since July, an offensive by government troops with Rwanda’s support, later joined by SAMIM, has been recovering several areas where there was rebel presence, including the town of Mocímboa da Praia, which had been occupied since August 2020.

Source: Lusa