FOREIGN TROOPS TO JOIN MOZAMBIQUE’S TERROR FIGHT
MAPUTO - The leaders of several southern African countries have agreed to form a joint armed force that will combat Islamist militants in Mozambique's northern province of Cabo Delgado, the country's President Felipe Nyusi has said.
Leaders of the regional bloc, South African Development Community (Sadc), agreed at a summit on Thursday that the force will be led by Mozambique, he added.
It will be composed of troops from the bloc's member countries although no numbers were mentioned. However, the announcement was missing in a joint statement.
There are fears that the insurgency in Mozambique could spill over to neighbouring countries.
President Nyusi, who is also the acting Sadc chairman, said the support will
contribute towards neutralising the militants and disrupt their lines of supply and logistics.
He defended coordinated actions “which enables us to better face terrorism in northern Mozambique, without discouraging the support of other countries, brothers and international organisations.”
The US, France and former
colonial power Portugal have already expressed interest to offer technical help and training to Mozambique soldiers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, along with current organ chairperson, Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and outgoing chairperson, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with President Nyusi in the
Extraordinary Troika Summit.
"We can all attest that it is a key responsibility of any president to keep his or her people safe," said Masisi.
"It is, therefore, my fervent hope that the recommendations before us will provide us with a solution for exactly that - to keep our people safe."
Mozambique has in the past rebuffed regional intervention. The March attacks in Palma, and the extraordinary summit that followed, marked a turning point.
“During our extraordinary summit of April 2021, we spoke with one voice, that now is the time to act, and act collectively, and decisively as we send a message to these faceless terrorists,” Masisi said.
Since 2017, the conflict has displaced more than 700 000 people and more than 2 500 civilians have been killed. – BBC/NEWS24.