Africa-Press – Mozambique. Since 2017, inhabitants of the province of Nampula in northern Mozambique – considered a centre for recruiting insurgents – have felt their security threatened. The government suspects that the districts of Memba and Moma are being infiltrated by terrorists.
In addition to Nampula, the district of Mecula, which has recently been the target of terrorist attacks, and Marrupa, in Niassa province, have joined the list of localities affected by the violence, along with Gurue and Pebane in Zambézia, and Inhassoro in Inhambane.
Creation of elite forces
The Mozambican government has deployed special forces trained in combating terrorism to the districts in question, in order to avoid their occupation and control by insurgents.
Commander-General of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, Bernardino Rafael, has explained that “this number results from the decisions that the President of the Republic left us” during the 21st Council of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, in which he “guided the Police to train platoon commanders who must constitute the matrix force for operations, as well as the police forces capable of guaranteeing the protection of the district forces”.
Nyusi demands full alert
The President of Mozambique and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, Filipe Nyusi, recognises that insecurity still prevails in some parts of the country, and has on the part of the Defence and Security Forces demanded greater readiness to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and other criminal practices.
“Terrorist threats and other challenges lead us to a strategic, operational and structural reinvention increasingly adapted to the concrete reality. By creating these companies, the State intends to reinforce, in a pilot phase, the operational capacity of the police in the protection of people and their goods in the provinces indicated and in the districts specified,” he said.
The Mozambican head of state wants greater collaboration from the population, through denunciations of attempts to recruit young people into the ranks of insurgents, violations of natural resources, drug trafficking and other criminal practices.
“Kill the snake by the head, not the tail”
Of the Defence and Security Forces, Nyusi ordered:
“Work objectively, attacking Mozambique’s enemies at the roots, in the districts. The priority is [killing] the snake by the head; don’t kill [it] by the tail,” he urged.
An order they accepted and swore to obey, assured Bernardino Rafael.
“We are ready to fulfil this mission, and as of now, we renew our loyalty to the President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. Once again, we swear before you to faithfully fulfil our task in this mission.”
In addition to Inhassoro, Pebane, Gurue, Moma, Memba, Mecula and Marrupa, the pilot phase of the deployment of special police companies also covers the districts of Meluco, Quissanga, Nangade, Muidumbe and Mocimboa da Praia, in the province of Cabo Delgado.
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