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Rwandan forces in Mozambique, deployed less than a month ago to help fight the jihadists, said on Thursday they had achieved success in driving out militants who are wreaking havoc in the gas-rich north of the country.
Last week, forces helped the Mozambican army regain control of Awasse, a small strategic settlement near the key town of Mocimboa da Praia, taken by militants in August last year.
“We are making good progress in Cabo Degaldo province,” Rwandan Defense Forces spokesman Colonel Ronald Rwivanga told AFP.
“We have recorded success on two fronts and we are closing in Mocimboa da Praia,” he added, referring to the port city occupied by militants since August 12, 2020.
The city, from where the first Islamist attacks took place in October 2017, has since last year become the de facto seat of extremists linked to ISIS.
Mozambican military forces are struggling to regain control of the province, which is home to one of Africa’s largest liquefied natural gas projects.
Rwanda said insurgents fled Awasse to other small towns near Mocimboa da Praia “but we are getting closer” to them.
Map of Mozambique locating the province of Cabo Delgado and the city of Palma. By Kun TIAN (AFP) The Rwandan force of 1,000 was deployed on July 9, following a visit to Kigali in April by Mozambican leader Filipe Nyusi.
A few weeks after Rwanda’s arrival, neighboring countries, under the aegis of the 16-member regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) began sending troops.
Botswana became the first SADC country to send in boots on July 26, deploying 296 troops. President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who chairs SADC’s defense and security arm, has been outspoken about the urgent need for regional stability.
A regional powerhouse and immediate neighbor, South Africa announced on July 28 that it would deploy 1,495 troops.
A day later, Zimbabwe unveiled its intention to send 304 non-combatant troops to form Mozambique’s infantry battalions.
Angola will deploy 20 military personnel specializing in aviation from August 6, while Namibia will contribute N $ 5.8 million (approximately $ 400,000) to the counter-insurgency offensive.
On July 12, the European Union officially established a military mission in Mozambique to help train its armed forces to fight jihadists.
Portugal’s former colonial ruler is already training Mozambican troops, with military instructors from Lisbon set to make up half of the new EU mission.
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