Mozambican Defence Minister warns youths against Islamic fundamentalism- AIM Report

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Mozambican Defence Minister warns youths against Islamic fundamentalism- AIM Report

9:49 CAT | 01 Apr 2019

Mozambican Defence Minister Atanasio M’tumuke (photo: o País)

Mozambican Defence Minister Atanasio M’tumuke has urged young people in the northern province of Cabo Delgado to keep away from the armed group that has been committing acts of terrorism in parts of the province.

Speaking in Montepuez at the closing ceremony of a course for trainees in the civic service (an alternative to military service for people who cannot be recruited into the armed forces), the Minister said the insurgent group, although claiming to be islamic, had nothing to do with the genuine principles of the islamic faith.

Cited by the independent television station STV, M’tumuke said Islam promotes love and solidarity with one’s neighbours, peaceful coexistence and brotherhood, whereas the Cabo Delgado insurgents took human lives “using the most brutal methods”.

The group, he continued, promotes disobedience to the Mozambican state, and young people are its preferred target. The fundamentalists try to recruit them with “false promises of money and other benefits”.

M’tumuke admitted that many young people are falling into this trap. He urged them to remain vigilant and not to accept false promises made by people with unknown intentions.

He said that by joining the ranks of the civic service, young people are honouring the state which needs their contribution on the various fronts of the struggle to develop the country. The course from which they had just graduated was part of the government’s efforts to empower young people.

“During your training, you have been equipped with ethical and moral values, mutual respect, solidarity, awareness of citizenship and a sense of belonging to the nation”, said M’tumuke. “These are noble values that galvanise the national unity of Mozambicans”.

In line with the objectives for which the Civic Service was created, the graduates from the course will be expected to show total commitment to their work, he added. This could involve rescue operations in the event of tragedies such as cyclone Ida, which struck central Mozambique on 14 March.

The Minister urged the leaders of the Civic Service to ensure conditions are created so that the graduates can put into practice all that they learnt during their training.

Source: AIM