Mozambique: Curfew decreed in Ibo district - AIM report
File photo: Folha de Maputo
The General Commander of the Mozambican police force, Bernadino Rafael, on Monday called for “greater cohesion” inside the defence and security forces in fighting against the terrorist groups, inspired by islamic fundamentalism, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, and against the armed gangs, believed to be part of the self-styled “Renamo Military Junta”, in the centre of the country.
Rafael was speaking at a ceremony in Maputo where 32 recently promoted police officers were sworn into their new duties.
“Don’t accept the disinformation or messages that are spread in order to persuade the police not to enter into combat with the criminals”, he urged.
He appealed to the police officers not to believe any kind of intimidation intended to deter them from fighting the insurgents. “The Mozambican police is called upon to intervene in zones of action and combat and to restore order in the north and centre of the country”, he declared.
Rafael spoke of the need for unity in order to defeat the insurgents who are assaulting the security of the Mozambican state. “If there is loss of life and injuries, that cannot constitute a threat to an organisaton such as ours”, he stressed.
He urged the officers to display professionalism, honesty and a civic attitude in the exercise of their duties.
“We are trusting you to lead the police force”, he said. “In the various areas where we are, you should lead with cohesion, which is the fulcral point for us to win”.
Meanwhile, terrorist raids are continuing in Cabo Delgado. Last Wednesday insurgents killed four people and burnt down 30 houses in an attack against the village of Nkonda, in Nangade district. The people of this village fled to the headquarters of the Ntamba administrative post.
On Sunday, gunmen attacked two vehicles belonging to Bangladeshi traders, who have been working in Mocimboa da Praia district for the past four years. There were two attacks, one at about 05.00, when a heavy truck was ambushed and set on fire.
At about 14.00, a pick-up sent to fetch the owners of the truck and assess the damage was fired on. The pick-up was slightly damaged, and in the two ambushes four people were injured.
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