Mozambique: FDS announce death of dozens of terrorists in Cabo Delgado – O País

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Mozambique: FDS announce death of dozens of terrorists in Cabo Delgado – O País

3:11 CAT | 29 Apr 2020

Ministers Amade Miquidade (left) and Jaime Nto. [Photo: O País]

The ministers of Interior, Amade Miquidade, and of National Defence, Jaime Neto, yesterday presented an overview of FDS offensives against Islamic State terrorists in the province of Cabo Delgado in the current month

In a press briefing after a Council of Ministers meeting, journalists were told that 129 terrorists were killed in four FDS operations in the districts of Muidumbe, Ibo and Quirimbas Island.

“On April 7, 2020, 39 terrorists were killed while attempting to attack the village of Muidumbe” Miquidade said.

The second offensive took place three days later (April 10) and culminated in the death of “59 (terrorists) as a result of an attack they led against Quirimba Island”.

The night of 11th to 12th of the current month, another 30 insurgents were killed while attempting to take Ilha do Ibo”.

According to the minister’s report, the latest strike took place on the 13th of this month, during a routine FDS patrol.

“On April 13, during a Defence and Security Forces patrol mission, a sailing vessel and various military and communication material were captured, and an insurgent was put out of action while trying to escape,” the minister announced, without enumerating any casualties among government troops.

According to Amade Miquidade, the “heavy” casualties that the insurgents “have been suffering” may have been the reason behind the massacre of 52 civilians in the village of Chitaxi, Muidumbe district, on April 8.

“This massacre comes in response to the heavy casualties that terrorists have been suffering, as a result of the prompt response by the Defence and Security Forces,” Miquidade concluded.

Nevertheless, a team had been deployed to detail the circumstances of the massacre of the 52 civilians in the village of Xitachi, the minister added.

Situation under control

Asked to assess the current situation in Cabo Delgado, Amad Miquidade said that the FDS had the situation under control and had located the terrorists’ bases, preparatory to yet another offensive.

“The situation in Cabo Delgado, at this moment, is under control, meaning we have identified the location of the enemy – his bases, camps and movements. Meanwhile, the Defence and Security Forces are strategically preparing for yet another offensive,” the minister revealed.

Zero tolerance for “subversive” acts

During his briefing, the Minister of the Interior attacked what he called “disinformation” spread by “some news organisations” and “spokespersons”.

“Some media outlets and spokespersons have been reporting or disseminating information that calls into question the credibility of the Defence and Security Forces’ combative missions, by disseminating manipulated information from non-credible sources about the real situation of their [FDS] actions, thus disinforming Mozambican society and the world in general,” the minister charged.

More directly, Amade Miquidade pointed the finger at Renamo spokesman José Manteigas, and warned that subversive acts would not be tolerated.

“The Defence and Security Forces strongly condemn the statements by the spokesman for the Renamo party, which accuse the Mozambican state of murdering civilians, in a clear attempt to abuse the issue for political ends,” he said.

The FDS “reaffirm that they will not tolerate these acts of subversion, which are intended to divert the focus from their mission to defend the country and to devalue the noble mission which they fulfil, even at great sacrifice”.

By William Mapote

Source: O País