Mozambique: Cabo Delgado rebels trying to divert government forces – president

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Mozambique: Cabo Delgado rebels trying to divert government forces – president

7:54 CAT | 05 Feb 2024

Photo: AIM

Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi said on Saturday that the movements of extremist groups in new areas of Cabo Delgado are intended to divert the advances of government forces, who are heading towards the terrorists’ main bases.

“With this movement, [the terrorists] intend to divert the intention and advance of the forces that are heading towards the terrorists’ main positions (…) Several terrorist outposts have been attacked, assaulted and destroyed, causing terrorists to flee in small groups,” declared Filipe Nyusi, during the ceremonies celebrating Heroes’ Day in Maputo.

At issue are new attacks and movements recorded after a period of relative stability in Cabo Delgado, episodes which, for the local authorities, are linked to the persecution imposed by the Defence and Security Forces in the districts of Macomia, Quissanga and Muidumbe, among the most affected.

According to the head of state, the government forces, with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community, are launching “immediate operations”, which include the “occupation and consolidation” of strategic positions in Mucojo, in the Macomia district, and coastal surveillance.

“The ultimate aim of the defence and security forces is to deny the terrorists penetration and mobility by sea, including their resupply through the adjacent islands, and in the last 72 hours they have been in direct contact with a group that is still on the run along the Ancuabe – Metuge route,” said Filipe Nyusi, noting that he wants to see “the origin and motivation” of this group clarified.

The Mozambican head of state also warned of new attempts by rebel groups to recruit young people, episodes that are being recorded further north in Cabo Delgado and also in two districts of Nampula, a neighbouring province, namely Memba and Eráti.

“Despite all this, we want to appeal to our collective resilience in order to hold off the terrorists’ onslaughts. We call on young people not to take part in recruitment and to report any strange movements that could jeopardise the security of their communities,” said Filipe Nyusi.

The movement of terrorist groups in recent days has also been observed in the Quissanga district, near crop fields close to the Metuge district, creating panic and leading residents to abandon their activities.

Cabo Delgado province has been facing an armed insurgency for six years, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State, which has led to a military response since July 2021, with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects.

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

Source: Lusa