Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Political Commission of Frelimo, the ruling party in Mozambique, on Thursday expressed “satisfaction” with the reconquest of the town of Mocímboa da Praia, in the north of the country, noting the determination of the government forces against terrorism.
“The Political Commission shares with the Mozambicans the pride and satisfaction for the commitment and combative level of the Defence and Security Forces in the northern operational theatre, which in partnership with the Rwandan troops, are fighting with determination against the terrorists,” according to a statement issued on Thursday by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo).
The statement said that the recovery of the port town of Mocímboa da Praia on Sunday marked a major step forward in the fight against armed groups carrying out attacks in the province of Cabo Delgado for over three years.
In the statement, the ruling party welcomed the launch on Monday of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, a military contingent that will combat armed groups in Cabo Delgado.
Frelimo also welcomes the progress in implementing the Peace, and National Reconciliation Agreement signed two years ago with the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party.
On Sunday, a joint operation by Mozambican and Rwandan government forces recaptured the strategic port town of Mocímboa da Praia in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The town, which has a port and an airfield, had been occupied by rebels since 23 March last year, in action later claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State.
The retaking of the town by the joint forces of Mozambique and Rwanda took place around 11 a.m. on Sunday (10 a.m. Lisbon time), after weeks of military operations, with Rwandan forces estimating, from Kigali, casualties of at least 70 people among the insurgents.
Armed groups have terrorised Cabo Delgado province since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
Following the attacks, there are more than 3,100 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and more than 817,000 displaced people, according to Mozambican authorities.
