Mozambique: SAMIM investigates video of soldiers burning bodies

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Mozambique: SAMIM investigates video of soldiers burning bodies

6:44 CAT | 11 Jan 2023

Illustrative photo: Lusa

The South African Armed Forces announced on Tuesday that an investigation was being opened into the alleged involvement of soldiers from the SADC regional military force in Mozambique (SAMIM) in a video showing troops burning bodies in that territory.

The video, posted on social media, shows soldiers allegedly from the South African army and other unknown soldiers throwing corpses onto a burning pile of rubble, according to military authorities in Pretoria.

“The SAMIM Force Commander (Major General Xolani Mankayi) is conducting an investigation surrounding the involvement of its members in this despicable act,” the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said in a statement to which Lusa had access.

“The SANDF in no way condones the acts committed in the video, and those found guilty of such acts will be held accountable,” it said.

In the statement, SANDF spokesman Andries Mokoena Mahapa explained that the South African military ““was recently made aware of a video clip circulating on social media depicting members in a yet unidentified defence force uniform throwing deceased bodies in a pile of burning rubble as well as the SANDF member(s) standing around watching them”.

According to the note, the incident reportedly occurred in November 2022 in Mozambique, where South Africa deployed a military contingent as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

“Once the forces are deployed, they form part of a combined force and fall under the command and control of SAMIM. South Africa only supports their mission logistically,” the statement said.

Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province has faced an armed insurgency for five years, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The insurgency has led to a military response since July 2021 with support from Rwanda and SADC, liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of attacks have emerged in the south of the region and in neighbouring Nampula province.

The conflict has left one million people displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and around 4,000 dead, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.

Source: Lusa