Mozambique: President publicly presents “repentant” terrorists – Lusa

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Mozambique: President publicly presents “repentant” terrorists – Lusa

4:23 CAT | 20 Oct 2022

Photo: TVM

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi yesterday presented in public around 30 former terrorists who were part of the armed groups operating in Cabo Delgado province, announcing an amnesty to the ex-fighters for having shown “repentance”, Lusa reports.

Nyusi introduced the former terrorists at a rally in Memba district, Nampula province, which a month ago was the scene of an armed attack attributed to terrorist groups in Cabo Delgado.

“The government is aware that some did not join [the armed groups] of their own free will, but were forced to,” the head of state said.

Filipe Nyusi said that the former rebels surrendered to the Defence and Security Forces because they regretted joining them, “a sign that they are aware of the evil they were forced to do”.

The president said that other extremists wanted to leave the ranks of the rebellion in Cabo Delgado, but fear being killed by the leaders of the armed groups.

The activity of the terrorists, Nyusi continued, is constrained by the actions of Mozambican and international government forces.

“There is a group that wants to re-join family life this week. Those that want to come, no problem,” he added.

Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas, but has since 2017 been beset by armed violence, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.

The insurgency led to a military response a year ago by Rwandan and Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, liberating districts near the province’s natural gas projects, but leading to a new wave of attacks in areas closer to Pemba, the provincial capital, and in the neighbouring province of Nampula.

In five years, the conflict has cost more than 4,000 lives, according to the ACLED conflict register, and displaced more than 817,000 civilians, according to the Mozambican authorities.

Source: Lusa