Africa-Press – Mozambique. A large part of the population displaced from their communities by terrorism in Cabo Delgado will be able to return to their areas of origin by the end of the first half of this year, Minister of National Defence Cristóvão Chume has promised.
Minister Chume says that the terrorists were weakened, and there had been no attacks in recent days. Security was progressively improving in districts plagued by terrorism in Cabo Delgado and in areas in Niassa where armed attacks had been reported, he added.
Speaking in Maputo on Thursday, Minister Chume that the improvement in security was the result of the pursuit of the enemy by the joint forces of Mozambique, the SADC and Rwanda.
“We have taken control of the areas where they circulate and, in recent days, we have been cutting contact between several groups that have split. As a result, we have been capturing many terrorists,” the minister said. “But, challenges still naturally remain to our goal of paralysing all types of terrorist activity. In general, what I can share with you is that security has improved a lot throughout the North Operational Theatre, including in Niassa, where there have been no attacks, that is, no terrorist activity in recent days,” Chume said.
The minister, who, prior to taking office, was himself a top commander in the North Operational Theatre, said that, by the end of this semester, the displaced population would be able to return to the areas they abandoned due to terrorism.
“We are working at the government level on a global strategy that allows the population to start returning to those areas where, effectively, there is security. Of course, in terms of timing, I’m not going to talk about it here, because there are other areas that are being prepared in that direction. But I believe that we will see a massive return of the population to currently safe areas within the first semester,” Minister Chume explained.
Cristóvão Chume was speaking this Thursday after a swearing-in ceremony for new Armed Forces of Defence of Mozambique officers.
By
Amadio Borges
For More News And Analysis About Mozambique Follow Africa-Press
