Mozambique: President praises late Eugénio Mussa in erradication of terrosism

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Mozambique: President praises late Eugénio Mussa in erradication of terrosism

10:07 CAT | 09 Feb 2021

Photo: Presidency of the Republic

Mozambique’s president, Filipe Nyusi, described on Tuesday the country’s head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Eugénio Mussa, who died on Monday, as a soldier determined to eradicate terrorism.

Filipe Nyusi praised Eugénio Mussa’s qualities, during the general’s funeral today, at the army headquarters in Maputo.

“General Mussa publicly reaffirmed his determination and patriotic commitment, expressed his conviction in the fight and eradication of terrorism in Mozambique, particularly in Cabo Delegado province”, Nyusi said.

The officer, he said, galvanised the army to contain the advance of the armed groups that carry out attacks in the north of Mozambique, in the role of commander of the “northern operational theatre”.

With a military career of over 46 years, Eugénio Mussa fought for the government army during the 16-year civil war against the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), which is currently the main opposition party, the president said.

Mussa was a member of one of the commissions that directed the implementation of the General Peace Agreement of 1992 with Renamo and the working groups that are directing the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process of the armed arm of the main opposition party, in the framework of the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement, signed in August 2019.

“The country has just lost a patriot, a compatriot committed to the noble causes of this nation, a military man committed to the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country”, the Mozambican President stressed.

Eugénio Mussa was appointed chief of general staff a few days before his death on 14 January by President Nyusi and was promoted to general shortly before his appointment.

Analysts told Lusa in January that Eugénio Mussa was seen by the head of state as a key player in curbing the advance of armed rebel groups in northern Cabo Delgado province because of his role as commander of the “northern operational theatre” before becoming chief of general staff.

The armed violence in Cabo Delgado is causing a humanitarian crisis with more than 2,000 deaths and 560,000 displaced people, without housing or food, mainly concentrated in the provincial capital, Pemba.

Some of the insurgent incursions have been claimed by the ‘jihadist’ Islamic state group since 2019.