Mozambique: Cabo Delgado police commander asks reservists to remain ‘ready’

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Mozambique: Cabo Delgado police commander asks reservists to remain ‘ready’

4:05 CAT | 27 Jul 2022

Screen grab: Miramar

The commander of the Cabo Delgado police called on Tuesday for the “readiness” of a group of officers who have passed into the reserve, warning that rebel incursions remain a challenge in the province.

“A group of Mozambican police officers in Pemba, the provincial capital of Cabo Delgado, said in a symbolic ceremony marking the retirement of a group of police officers that they were counting on them, if the situation required, to take up arms again to fight terrorism because this is the duty of every Mozambican citizen.

In total, 119 members of the corporation that for over two decades contributed to the maintenance of order, tranquillity, and public safety passed today to the reserve in Cabo Delgado.

The Cabo Delgado police commander also asked that the officers, now in reserve, continue to be vigilant in their communities.

“We still expect from you the best contribution in denouncing criminals, who act to disturb the order,” Vicente Chicote said.

Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas but has been terrorised since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

There are about 800,000 internally displaced people due to the conflict, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and about 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.

Since July 2021, an offensive by government troops with the support of Rwanda, later joined by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), allowed the rebels to recover areas where they had been present, including Mocímboa da Praia, but their flight has led to new attacks in other districts used as passage or refuge.

Watch the Miramar report.

Source: Lusa / Miramar