Mozambique: Terrorism greatest obstacle to development – president

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Mozambique: Terrorism greatest obstacle to development – president

7:00 CAT | 12 Sep 2023

Photo: Presidency of the Republic

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi acknowledged on Friday that the terrorism that has been affecting the province of Cabo Delgado for almost six years is the main obstacle to the country’s development but welcomed the involvement of young people in combating it.

“In our country, terrorism has become one of the main obstacles to development. That’s why, in particular, we salute the young people who are in the ranks of the Defence and Security Forces,” said the head of state, speaking in the city of Chimoio, in the central province of Manica, at the 9th National Gala of the Young Creative Award.

“The average age of those in the field is 30-something, but they are protecting us so that terrorism doesn’t spread, so that we can undertake, innovate and implement projects. This is fundamental, but they are young people who are defending this,” he stressed, recognising that they are taking part in this fight “with great bravery, tenacity and great sacrifice”.

“They fight terrorism, inflicting heavy defeats on the enemy, allowing other young people to participate in the productive sectors in favour of development,” said Filipe Nyusi.

On the ground in Cabo Delgado, the Armed Defence Forces of Mozambique have been fighting terrorism – in attacks that have been taking place since October 2017 and which are hampering the progress of natural gas production projects in the region – since July 2021, with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The conflict in northern Mozambique has already displaced a million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and caused around 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, while the Mozambican President this week admitted to “more than 2,000” fatalities.

In his speech, the head of state saluted Mozambican youth “in general, for their level of convergence and patriotic sense, placing themselves at the forefront in facing these challenges”.

“And I always say that first, we have to have Mozambique in our hearts. Mozambique, Mozambique, Mozambique,” he appealed, warning: “This homeland is envied, but it has owners. The owners are you”.

“We are friends of friends, neighbours of neighbours. But first, our priority is here. When there’s a Mozambican suffering, your first priority is this Mozambican, so you won’t be able to support the other if you don’t exist (…) And we have to like ourselves,” he said.

Regarding the National Gala for the Young Creative Award, Filipe Nyusi explained that it allows “the strength, intelligence and creativity of young people to be praised as driving factors for development” in the country.

This year’s edition had 2,740 competitors from all over the country, with ideas and entrepreneurial projects in various sectors.

“To be better, we have to do. And you’re the ones who have to do it, with these ideas, and these ideas from everyone, they don’t have to be from that party or that province. It won’t be possible to think alike, but we have to think for Mozambique so that we can build this country,” he appealed, challenging young people to “capitalise” on the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Source: Lusa