Mozambique: Government seeks to legalise local militias – AIM report | Watch

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Mozambique: Government seeks to legalise local militias – AIM report | Watch

7:08 CAT | 24 Nov 2022

Screen grab: TVM

The Mozambican government is seeking to put onto a firm legal footing the local militias who been playing a key role in the fight against islamist terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

What have become known as “local forces” were set up on an ad-hoc basis, often formed by veterans of the war for Mozambican independence and their descendants. But complaints were soon heard that there was nothing in the law that justified the creation of these forces.

Hence, the government is now sending a bill to the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, that amends the law on National Defence so that it will include the local militias. Under this amendment the government will approve norms for the establishment, organization and functioning of the Local Forces, formed by members of the community of a particular territorial area.

Under the amended law, the Local Forces will be subordinate to the General Staff of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM), government spokesperson Deputy Justice Minister Filimao Suaze told reporters.

Meanwhile, terrorists are continuing to carry out lethal ambushes in Cabo Delgado. According to a report in Wednesday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax”, a vehicle belonging to a non-governmental organization was attacked and set on fire on Sunday afternoon, in the area of Xitaxi, in Muidumbe district.

Five people were travelling in the vehicle. Two of their bodies were later recovered, but it is not known whether the other three are alive or dead. The dead men are the manager of the NGO project, and the driver of the car. One of the other occupants of the vehicle is believed to be a police officer from Palma district.

Xitaxi is a village that became famous for the worst reasons on 8 April 2020 when jihadists massacred 50 young people who refused to join their insurrection.

Watch the TVM report.