Mozambique: PM stresses importance of vigilance and unity – Watch

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Mozambique: PM stresses importance of vigilance and unity – Watch

7:00 CAT | 14 Nov 2022

Screen grab: Miramar

Mozambican Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane on Saturday stressed the importance of unity and vigilance among communities as a fundamental weapon to prevent the spread of terrorist actions from the northern province of Cabo Delgado to other parts of the country.

Since October 2017 terrorist groups, who claim allegiance to the self-styled “Islamic State” or ISIS, have ravaged parts of Cabo Delgado, notably the districts of Palma, Mocímboa da Praia, Macomia and Muidumbe.

Thanks to a military counter-offensive last year by the Mozambican defence and security forces, with the support of troops from Rwanda and from member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the terrorists were driven out from many of the areas occupied, allowing displaced people to return to their home areas.

However, the terrorists have reacted by moving further south, striking at districts in southern Cabo Delgado, such as Meluco, Ancuabe, Chiure and Namuno.

Speaking at a press conference at the end of his three day working visit to Cabo Delgado, Maleiane renewed the government’s appeal for unity and vigilance to neutralize terrorist infiltration of communities.

“I think the spread of attacks to the south of the province has nothing to do with any poor performance by our armed forces, but it is a risk that has happened”, said Maleiane. “What we have to do, as communities, is to organize ourselves so that we can ensure liaison and communication with the armed forces who are fighting terrorism. We have to reposition ourselves, as communities and as citizens, to assist the armed forces. Let us be informants in the good sense of the word”.

“We need to organize ourselves for our own community defence”, insisted Maleiane.

During his visit, the Prime Minister chaired provincial government meetings and a meeting of the Provincial Business Council. He visited Palma and Mueda districts where he witnessed the resumption of socio-economic activities interrupted by the terrorist raids.

Gradually, life is being normalized, Maleiane claimed.

“Reconstruction is under way, but there is still a great deal to be done”, he declared.