Mozambique: Government claims operational success against armed groups in north

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Mozambique: Government claims operational success against armed groups in north

2:03 CAT | 26 Oct 2019

FILE: For illustration purposes only. [File photo: DW]

The Mozambican deputy defence minister on Friday said that military operations against armed groups that attack populations in the northern region of Cabo Delgado are a success.

“We have been issuing announcements that show the success we have been achieving in the North,” said Patrício José, deputy defence minister, although there are no deadlines. The government is working to put an end to the armed groups in the north of the country”.

Mozambique’s defence ministry announced on Tuesday a new artillery attack against armed groups, achieving the neutralization of several members in what was the third attack this month.

The Mozambican government began to publicise combat actions in northern Mozambique, after two years of armed violence in which the authorities have almost always remained silent.

The Cabo Delgado region has been affected since October 2017 by armed attacks carried out by groups created in mosques in the region and which broke out in Mocímboa da Praia.

As a result, at least 250 people have already died, almost all in isolated villages and during clashes in the bush, but, on some occasions, the violence has hit transport on the main roads in the region, as well as the area of megaprojects for gas exploration, where there are several Portuguese sub-contractors.

Since June, the jihadist group Islamic State has been claiming some of the attacks, but authorities and analysts heard by Lusa believe it unlikely that there is genuine involvement of the terrorist group that goes beyond some contact with elements on the ground.

Source: Lusa