Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Mozambican prime minister said on Wednesday in parliament that the military response that has been given since July to the armed insurgency in Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, is recording progress.
“The progress made by the Defence and Security Forces has allowed the circulation of people and goods to be opened,” and “part of the population that had moved to other places is gradually returning,” Agostinho do Rosario said as he assessed the joint action with forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Rwanda.
“At this moment, Defence and Security Forces, in coordination with SADC and Rwanda, are continuing with mopping-up, clearing and consolidation actions of the recovered sites,” he added.
The prime minister was answering questions from members of parliament about the situation in the province in a session dedicated to questions to the government.
He recalled that the Mozambican government had presented a Reconstruction Plan for Cabo Delgado, budgeted at US$300 million (€258 million).
In the plan, US$200 million (€172 million) is earmarked for implementing short-term actions, which include the replacement of public administration, health units, schools, energy, water supply, amongst other aspects.
“Part of this amount needed to implement actions with an immediate impact is already ensured via redistribution of the budget,” he said, also noting the support of international partners, such as the World Bank, which on Monday announced a further US$100 million (€86 million) to support the plan.
In terms of natural gas exploration by oil company Total in Cabo Delgado, he said that the government remained in direct contact with the multinational company to find solutions to the suspension of activities.
“The suspension of all activities will result in the deferral and delay in revenue collection for the State, as well as a direct negative impact for small and medium-sized companies that were directly and indirectly linked to the project,” he said.
The Mozambican government “is in direct contact with Total to find solutions to minimise the costs arising from the suspension of contracts for the supply of goods and services” by companies, he said.
According to the Mozambican prime minister, the actions of the rebel groups have no logical basis and differ from “a regular war.
It includes children “instrumentalised” by “terrorists” who want to “promote the interests of certain people or groups, opening up space for the trafficking of arms, drugs and human beings”, Carlos Agostinho do Rosário said.
Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas but has been terrorised since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
The conflict has led to more than 3,100 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and more than 817,000 displaced people, according to Mozambican authorities.
Since July, an offensive by government troops with international support allowed increasing security, recovering several areas where there was rebel presence, including the town of Mocímboa da Praia, which had been occupied since August 2020.
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