Mozambique: President lands in Mocímboa and receives those who left the rebellion – Lusa report | Watch

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Mozambique: President lands in Mocímboa and receives those who left the rebellion – Lusa report | Watch

3:54 CAT | 21 Sep 2022

Screen grab: TVM

President Filipe Nyusi touched down in Mocímboa da Praia yesterday, about a year after the town was retaken from armed groups in Cabo Delgado, and received residents who had left rebel bases there.

“I came to free our brothers,” the head of state said later at a popular rally in Pemba at the end of his visit to the province, appealing for the reintegration without discrimination of those who had found themselves in the rebel ranks, whether voluntarily or by force.

In Mocímboa da Praia, Nyusi participated in a popular rally and strolled through the town, where residents sought permission to return to their habit of sea fishing. Nyusi replied that they indeed could now do so, but in an organised way and in conjunction with the authorities.

A group of 42 people who had deserted various rebel bases in the province were presented at the rally, with some relating their experiences, as did 22 others at the Pemba rally.

One of the women told the population that she was forcibly taken to a rebel base, where she had the task of collecting manioc in the fields under armed guard, in order to feed the insurgents.

“Some people were killed when they tried to escape,” she reported, sometimes as many as seven a day, and kidnapped children starved to death.

Another man says he was picked up by one armed group and taken to various locations, until he managed to escape, walking for several days to freedom.

“This is what we want: that you re-join us,” Nyusi said, asking the audience to make them welcome “without discrimination”.

Some were captured and held in captivity under the armed threat, while others were “brainwashed by the terrorists”, the president said, but now, in the light of their repentance, it was time to take them back.

“Are we going to pardon them?” he asked the audience in Pemba, who answered “Yes!” with one voice.

Filipe Nyusi reported that he had even received letters from some residents who had joined the armed groups but were now asking to be reintegrated into the communities they left.

“No need to write letters – just come back,” Nyusi said.

“Even Tanzanians,” he added, should not be afraid to hand themselves in, assuring them that they would be well treated.

“We don’t know that they didn’t come with good intentions,” only to find out later what they were joining, he explained.

The head of state repeated several times that, in addition to understanding, “vigilance” was necessary, so that there would be no chicanery.

READ: Mocímboa da Praia: Insurgents benefit from presidential pardon – TVM report |Watch

Armed violence has terrorized Cabo Delgado since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.

The insurgency led to a military response supported by forces from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts next to the gas projects, but leading to a new wave of attacks in other areas, closer to Pemba, the provincial capital. , and in the neighbouring province of Nampula.

There are about 800,000 internally displaced people due to the conflict, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and about 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registry project.

Watch the TVM report.