Cabo Delgado: Terrorist leaders remain at large – Carta de Moçambique

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Cabo Delgado: Terrorist leaders remain at large – Carta de Moçambique

1:28 CAT | 24 Sep 2021

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: O País]

Two months after the start of joint military offensives by Mozambican and Rwandan troops, it has still not been possible to capture the leaders of the terrorist group which, for almost four years, has been sowing panic and mourning in some districts of Cabo Delgado province.

This Thursday, ‘Carta’ learned that the group’s spiritual and military leaders, Sheik Hassan and Bonamade Omar respectively, escaped the recent assault on the village of Mbau, headquarters of the administrative post with the same name, and considered to be the stronghold of the terrorist group

According to Major Steven Kuraba, Commander of the Rwandan Special Force assigned to Mbau, the two leaders were in that part of the country but managed to escape. It is now suspected that they are hiding on the banks of the Messalo River.

This means the Rwandan mission could end without having captured the leaders of the terrorist group who, it seems, are still in the forests of Cabo Delgado province. This is because the Rwandan troop’s mission is to act only north of the Messalo river, the southern bank being in the charge of the forces of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

Assault on Mbau lasted eight days

‘Carta’ was yesterday at the headquarters of the Mbau administrative post in the southeast of Mocímboa da Praia district, there witnessing the presence of Rwandan and Mozambican forces on the ground.

The battle for Mbau was one of the biggest fought by troops from both countries in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado province.

In a press conference given yesterday afternoon, Major Steven Kuraba revealed that the assault on Mbau lasted eight days, starting on the 20th of August and ending on the 28th. He says that the rebel group showed greater resistance, especially in the Nakiteng region, but ended up being defeated.

The same opinion was shared by Lieutenant Feliciano Raibo of the Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (FADM), who took part in the operation. Lieutenant Raibo considers the battle of Mbau the most difficult of the campaign, but says that “with dedication, it was possible to achieve everything that had been planned”.

Raibo guaranteed that, in addition to the Mbau base, the Siri 1 and Siri 2 bases were also destroyed, and are now under the control of Mozambican and Rwandan forces.

However, as in the other operations, the two forces refused to reveal the number of terrorists captured or killed, claiming it was a military matter. It was also not possible to ascertain whether there were any casualties among the Mozambican and Rwandan forces.

Like all areas severely affected by terrorist attacks, the Mbau administrative post is currently destroyed and completely abandoned, its only residents the Mozambican and Rwandan military.

By Abilio Maolela

in Mbau, Cabo Delgado

Bin Omar, leader of the terrorists, may have fled #Mbau to the southern bank of the #Messalo River, between Mucojo, Chai and Quiterajo.
Since this last Saturday (25/09), the area was bombarded, it is a very closed sandy region, with difficult access and reduced visibility. pic.twitter.com/FT2oPUwWbK

— Cabo Delgado (@DelgadoCabo) September 26, 2021