Watch: Rwandan forces killed more than 100 terrorists, rescued at least 350 civilians in Cabo Delgado

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Watch: Rwandan forces killed more than 100 terrorists, rescued at least 350 civilians in Cabo Delgado

8:37 CAT | 11 Nov 2021

Screen grab: ISS Africa

More than 100 terrorists have been killed and at least 350 civilians, including women and children, rescued by Rwandan military forces in the northern part of Cabo Delgado, the Rwandan ambassador to Mozambique said on Monday.

Speaking at an Institute for Security Studies (ISS) webinar in Pretoria on combating the insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Rwandan ambassador to Mozambique Claude Nikobizanzwe said that bilateral military intervention to stop the terrorist insurgency in the northern part of Mozambique was “inevitable”.

Ambassador Nikobizanzwe explained that Rwanda’s military intervention in Cabo Delgado arose in response to a request from the Mozambican government under a security agreement signed with Mozambique in 2015.

“The mandate is to support Mozambican forces in preventing the creation of a caliphate [Islamic State], re-establishing state authority in Cabo Delgado province, (…) promoting civil and military cooperation, and supporting the capacity of the Mozambican armed forces,” he outlined.

“Following joint operations between Rwanda and Mozambique, insurgents were repelled from Mocímboa da Praia, Palma and Mueda. More than 100 terrorists were killed, and some captured. At least 350 civilians were rescued, including women and children,” Ambassador Nikobizanzwe detailed.

Rwandan military forces have also captured a “considerable amount” of military equipment, including weapons, vehicles, computers, mobile phones and documents, “which are being analysed”.

In the wake of these operations, around 50,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were resettled in Palma and neighbouring villages.

The diplomat considered that the terrorist group is left in “a situation of enormous fragility” and “will be completely eradicated”.

As for the terms of the bilateral agreement for Rwanda’s military intervention in northern Mozambique, the ambassador forwarded his public disclosure to the Mozambican government.

Secrecy of the Mozambican government

Mozambican National Defence spokesperson Omar Saranga, participating in the event on behalf of Defence Minister Jaime Neto, declined however to give details of the mandate for the intervention of the various foreign military forces in northern Mozambique, or of any financing models, bilateral or multilateral.

Asked, in this regard, by Lusa about the direct purchase of weapons by the Government of Mozambique from South Africa, the Mozambican defence spokesperson said: “It is my understanding that it is not part of this issue.”

More than 20 countries are helping Mozambique fight terrorism in Cabo Delgado province, in the northern region of the country, according to the ISS.

Coordination is vital

A new ISS policy brief on the situation in Mozambique warns that coordination among these foreign missions and tailoring the training being provided is vital to ensuring an effective response.

Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas, but has been terrorized for four years by armed insurgents, with some attacks claimed by the ‘Islamic State’ extremist group.

The conflict has already cost more than 3,100 lives, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and displaced more than 817,000 civilians, according to the Mozambican authorities.

Since July, an offensive by government troops, with the support of Rwanda, later joined by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has recovered several areas, including the town of Mocímboa da Praia, occupied by the insurgents since August, 2020.

Source: Deutsche Welle / ISS Africa