Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo yesterday highlighted the “determination and engagement” of SADC countries in fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, stating that the country would continue to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for “brotherhood”.
“We are pleased to reiterate the gratitude of the Mozambican people to your leadership, Your Excellences, for the determination and engagement of the sister countries of our region in fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado province,” said Daniel Chapo during the 45th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The withdrawal of military personnel from SAMIM, a joint mission of eight southern African countries, which had been stationed in Cabo Delgado since mid-2021 and supported Mozambican forces in the fight against terrorism, was completed in June, 2024.
Rwandan military personnel are also supporting the country in the fight against insurgents and remain on the ground in Tanzania, a country that borders two northern provinces of Mozambique.
The Mozambican head of state, participating in his first SADC summit, this Sunday extended his “comfort” to the governments, people, and families of the “citizens of different countries” who died and were wounded in the “noble mission” of fighting insurgent groups in Cabo Delgado.
“Mozambique will continue to pay tribute to these exemplary sons and daughters who sacrificed their integrity and even their lives in the name of solidarity and the spirit of brotherhood that guide our organization,” the president declared, adding that “eradicating the threat” posed by terrorism is one of the priorities of the Mozambican government.
Daniel Chapo also stated that he is committed to strengthening the capacity of the Mozambican military for a “more effective” approach to terrorism, aiming to defend “sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
“The Mozambique Armed Defence Forces continue to invigorate their actions to stop this heinous phenomenon,” the president concluded.
Since October 2017, gas-rich Cabo Delgado province has faced an armed rebellion, with attacks claimed by movements associated with the extremist group Islamic State.
A recent wave of attacks, particularly in the Chiúre district, beginning in the last week of July, has displaced more than 57,000 people, according to organizations on the ground.
According to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with data from July 20 to August 3, “the escalation of attacks and the growing fear of violence” by non-state armed groups in the districts of Muidumbe, Ancuabe and Chiúre led to the displacement of 57,034 people from a total of 13,343 families.
The Minister of National Defence recently admitted concern at the end of July about the wave of new attacks in Cabo Delgado, noting that defence forces were pursuing armed rebels on the ground.
“As a security force, we are not satisfied with the current situation, considering that terrorists have gained access to areas furthest from the centre of gravity we have identified in recent days,” Cristóvão Chume told reporters.
At least 349 people died in attacks by Islamic extremist groups in northern Mozambique in 2024, a 36% increase compared to the previous year, according to a study released in February by the US-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS).
The 45th SADC summit took place in Madagascar, which took over the rotating presidency of the organization, previously chaired by Zimbabwe, at a meeting held under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC”.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was established on August 17, 1992, with the signing of the Declaration and Treaty in Windhoek, Namibia. The precursor to SADC was the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), formed in 1980, which included nine founding members: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Current SADC member states are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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