Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Saturday called on the police to clear up immediately the recent terrorist attacks that have occurred in Niassa province, near the boundary with Cabo Delgado.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony at the conclusion of an officers’ course at the Samora Machel Military Academy in the northern city of Nampula, Nyusi declared “The enemy is scattering, they’re running away. The signs are that they’re reaching the border with Niassa province. As I said yesterday in Metuchira, in Sofala (where he chaired the closing ceremony of a course for police special forces), the police must quickly clear up this situation”.
Nyusi’s reading of the situation was that terrorists had crossed into Niassa, because of the actions of the defence and security forces and their allies from Rwanda and SADC, who have imposed heavy losses on the terrorists in Cabo Delgado.
“We fought and we fought hard in Palma and Mocimboa da Praia, and even in M’bau, where it was becoming difficult”, Nyusi said. “We don’t want these positions to fall back into enemy hands”.
At the Nampula ceremony new platoon chiefs of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) graduated. Guests at the ceremony included the commanders of the Rwandan and SADC contingents in Cabo Delgado, and the commander of the Kenyan Military Academy.
“The Ministry of Defence, through the defence and security forces, is consolidating our military diplomacy”, said Nyusi, “ensuring that the range of our friends is ever broader, and allowing the common combat against all kinds of evil that weaken humanity, and particularly terrorism”.
“Together and united we shall set an example”, he declared, “and we shall defeat terrorism in our region and our continent”.
The priority missions for the newly graduated officers, Nyusi added, are the challenges linked to security, particularly stepping up the fight against terrorism and restoring social and economic activities in Cabo Delgado.
This included “the creation of conditions for the safe return of the displaced people to their places of origin, the recovery of socio-economic activities in the areas affected by terrorism, including the rebuilding of infrastructures, as well as the complete elimination of the foci of activity of the self-styled Renamo Military Junta, he said.
The Military Academy, Nyusi stressed, “should not just be a place where you get a scholarship to study. You should love the country, love your profession and accept sacrifice”.
He urged the new platoon commanders to show humanism in all their actions, particularly in meeting the needs of the public in the event of floods, cyclones and other natural disasters that may hit the country during the current rainy season.
“No Mozambican should be afraid of their soldiers, or of their officers”, declared Nyusi. “Mozambicans should count on your protection. That’s what you have been trained for”.
Speaking on Saturday, at Ressano Garcia, on the border with South Africa, the General Commander of the Mozambican police, Bernadino Rafael, also confirmed that some terrorist groups had fled into Mecula district, in Niassa, to escape from the offensive waged in Cabo Delgado by the Mozambican defence and security forces and their allies.
In a clash in Mecula, Mozambican forces killed a terrorist leader, whom Rafael named only as Cassimo.
Cassimo was a wanted man who had led several attacks in Cabo Delgado. He was killed after an attack on a Mecula village. “From the death of this terrorist leader”, said Rafael, “we drew the conclusion that these were terrorists who fled from Cabo Delgado into Mecula”.
He declared that the defence and security forces, and their Rwandan and SADC allies, remain committed to restoring order and tranquility, but he did not say how long this might take.
“There are no deadlines or time limits for getting rid of terrorism”, said Rafael. “That doesn’t exist in war. There will always be clashes until we find solutions”.
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