Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambican Defence Minister Cristovao Chume has admitted that Islamist terrorists have raided three districts in the northern province of Cabo Delgado in recent days, driving between 11,000 and 12,000 people from their homes.
Chume told reporters on Thursday “as the defence and security forces, we are not satisfied with the current situation, since the terrorists have gained access to places that are distant from the centre of gravity, which is Macomia district. They have attacked in Ancuabe and Chiure districts, where they have destroyed houses and goods of the population. There have also been deaths”.
“This cannot satisfy the defence forces, since it is our noble responsibility to protect the public, and to drive back any terrorist action”, said Chume. “We are on the ground every day. We don’t keep to any timetable, and we are active in all weathers”.
“Our forces are fighting the terrorists and chasing the terrorists”, he stressed. “But we recognise that it is not always possible to avoid events such as the attack that occurred in Chiure”.
He pledged that the armed forces will continue to minimise the action of the terrorists, and prevent them from advancing, particularly in Cabo Delgado. Chume could not confirm how many people had been displaced in the latest raids, but he believed that it was about 12,000.
“The local authorities are working to support the displaced people”, he said. “Civil society organisations are also there and the international organisations that work with us are also on the ground to minimise the suffering of the population. I want to repeat that we shall continue to do everything to ensure that terrorism does not spread further in Cabo Delgado”.
“We need to be very patient”, said Chume. “The fight against terrorism requires a lot of patience. Even when large countries fight against terrorism, they need a lot of patience. We shall continue to invest in human capital, and to upgrade the Defence and Security Forces with the necessary equipment”.
Chume was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Maputo with the Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Services, Stergomena Tax.
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