Mozambique: State up against ‘well-led’ insurgents’ in Cabo Delgado – report

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Mozambique: State up against ‘well-led’ insurgents’ in Cabo Delgado – report

9:52 CAT | 28 Jul 2020

File photo: Lusa

Researchers at Joaquim Chissano University argued that the Mozambican state needs to recognise that it faces a well-led group in Cabo Delgado, suggesting a more offensive strategy by government forces.

“Mozambique needs to recognise that it is facing a well-led group, that is adapting easily to the conditions imposed on it and that it is taking advantage of the gaps and weaknesses of the country, especially of the defence and security forces [FDS],” said a report on the security situation in the country, prepared by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies of Joaquim Chissano University.

For the researchers, although well-led, the group responsible for the armed incursions in Cabo Delegado shows weaknesses.

“Although they carry high-calibre weapons, their ability to replenish ammunition is limited, this justifies their attacks on military barracks and camps, which aim to replenish the group with weapons and ammunition,” the document stated.

For the researchers, the FDS must, therefore, adopt more offensive strategies, forcing insurgents to abandon points of conflict.

On the other hand, researchers understand that the support of the population in the fight against the insurgents in Cabo Delgado is fundamental.

“Community policing is the first stage in building the surveillance mentality that needs to be installed at the level of conflict zones to eliminate threats,” the report said.

Security reports are produced every two months by teachers and researchers at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado has been the scene of actions by armed groups which, according to the United Nations, have forced 250,000 people to flee from districts affected by violence, further north in the province.

The provincial capital, Pemba, has been the main refuge for people seeking shelter and security in Cabo Delgado, but some prefer to flee to other places, including Niassa and Nampula, neighbouring provinces.

The armed conflict in that province has killed at least 1,000 people, and some of the actions of armed groups have been claimed by the jihadist Islamic State (IS) group.

Source: Lusa