Botswana President visits Cabo Delgado, says Mozambique already has the capacity to fight terrorists

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Botswana President visits Cabo Delgado, says Mozambique already has the capacity to fight terrorists

1:42 CAT | 02 Jan 2024

Image: @OfficialMasisi / X

The President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, said on Saturday that Mozambique had military capacity superior to that of the terrorists operating in Cabo Delgado, where the neighbouring country has also deployed forces.

Accompanied by the Mozambican Minister of National Defence, Cristóvão Chume, the Botswanan head of state on Saturday visited military personnel from his country serving in the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.

“Since 2021, Mozambique has developed capacity that exceeds that of the insurgents,” said Masisi on his official account on the social network X, adding that the SAMIM mission “was formed on the basis of very strong ideals: where when one country is under assault and needs help, other countries are compelled to offer assistance.”

Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi on 22 November of last year demanded “decisions” on the response capacity of the Armed Forces in Cabo Delgado, particularly with reservists, taking into account the planned withdrawal of foreign forces on the ground.

Dr. Masisi also noted that since 2021, Mozambique has developed capacity that beats that of the insurgents, adding that SADC was formed on the basis of very strong ideals,where when one country is under assault and needs help, other countries are compelled to offer assistance. pic.twitter.com/dTaZGEg28j

— Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi (@OfficialMasisi) December 30, 2023

“Concrete decisions on the response capacity of the Armed Forces in relation to their action in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado in the period after the withdrawal of friendly forces from SAMIM and Rwanda [are needed],” President Nyusi said in Maputo at the opening of the XXIV Coordinating Council of the Ministry of National Defence.

“To this end, your reflection must also evaluate how to best capitalize on the pool of reservists, engaging them directly or indirectly in various missions in favour of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. And the current reality justifies it,” Nyusi added, giving as an example the former fighters of the liberation struggle, who “are still useful, even after 40 years”.

In the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado, Nyusi highlighted the importance of “calling on citizens” and society in general to “actively participate in the national defence effort”.

Last August, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit approved the extension of the mission in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, for 12 months, until July of this year. The final communiqué of the 43rd SADC heads of state and government summit, also congratulated the member states, leadership and staff of the Southern African Development Community Military Mission (SAMIM) on their dedication and contribution in supporting the mission aimed at achieving peace and security in Cabo Delgado.

An assessment mission last July proposed the complete withdrawal of SAMIM soldiers in Cabo Delgado by July, 2024, noting that the situation in the province “is now calm”, despite some risks prevailing.

The analysis of the situation points out among the risks arising from SAMIM remaining for another year the “increasing financial stress” on member states and lack of budget for actions to mobilize communities to support foreign troops.

In addition to SAMIM and Mozambican government forces, Rwandan troops are also fighting the insurgency in Cabo Delgado, operating on the perimeter of the area where the Rovuma basin natural gas projects are situated.

Source: Lusa