{"id":60930,"date":"2023-12-17T10:11:28","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T10:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/cabo-delgado-over-250000-people-return-home"},"modified":"2023-12-17T10:27:01","modified_gmt":"2023-12-17T10:27:01","slug":"cabo-delgado-over-250000-people-return-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/cabo-delgado-over-250000-people-return-home","title":{"rendered":"Cabo Delgado: Over 250,000 people return home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>More than 250,000 people earlier displaced by Islamic State-linked terrorists in Mozambique\u2019s northern province of Cabo Delgado have returned to their homes, thanks to joint operations by Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) and the Mozambican army since 2021.<\/p>\n

The coastal region had been ravaged by the Ansar al Sunnah wal Jama\u2019a terrorists who killed more than 4,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands others since 2017.<\/p>\n

In July 2021, Rwanda deployed troops to Cabo Delgado, at the request of the Mozambican government. Rwandan troops are deployed to three districts, Mocimboa da Praia, Palma, and Ancuabe.<\/p>\n

A view of market constructed by the Rwandan and Mozambican Security Forces in Mocimboa da Praia, traders testify to a return to normalcy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are committed and well-prepared to ensure security in the areas under our control so that security in Cabo Delgado Province is fully restored,\u201d said the Joint Task Force Commander of the RSF, Maj Gen Alexis Kagame.<\/p>\n

He said the troops conduct operations including long-range patrols, mobile operating bases, confidence building patrols, fighting patrols, ambushes, and joint operations with the Mozambican Armed Defence Forces (FADM) and troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).<\/p>\n

\u201cAll these operations contributed much to the defeat of the terrorists and, as a result, internally displaced people returned to their homes on the average of 87 per cent,\u201d Kagame said after community work (Umuganda) and medical outreach exercises jointly conducted by the RSF and Mozambican forces in Mocimboa da Praia city on Saturday, December 16.<\/p>\n

HAPPENING: After conducting community work (Umuganda) with residents of the port city of Mocimboa da Praia, in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province, Rwandan and Mozambican Security Forces on Saturday, December 16, undertake a medical outreach programme.<\/p>\n

He said the relationship and the interaction between the local population and the Rwanda Security Forces has been strengthened by outreach programmes like provision of medical service, community work, provision of school materials, and the construction of markets, among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis created trust and good relations between the population, especially in the RSF area of responsibility. The situation of security has been enhanced,\u201d he said, adding that more services have resumed, such as local government administrative offices, health centres, schools, and banks.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the joint operations, he said, Mocimboa da Praia saw the reopening of a sea port off the coast of the Indian ocean, and the inauguration of an airport, in October, by President Filipe Nyusi.<\/p>\n

Mocimboa da Praia residents testify to a return to normal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are free to move and we have hope for a better future. The Rwandan soldiers came to our rescue and we have hope,\u201d said Ines Vasco, 29, who benefited from the medical outreach with her daughter, along with over 250 Mocimboa da Praia residents on Saturday.<\/p>\n

WATCH: At a market built by the #Rwanda-n and Mozambican Security Forces in Mocimboa da Praia, traders testify to a return to normalcy in the Mozambican port city which had been ravaged by the Islamic State-linked insurgency.<\/p>\n

For Captain Quenton Brink, the manager of the newly refurbished port of Mocimboa da Praia, their operations have not had any disturbance since in 2022 when the port resumed operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe port is currently fully operational. We are what we call a tidal port. We do shipping operations, bringing vessels in and out during the high tides or when there\u2019s efficient water. We’ve currently developed three berths and we\u2019ve got a fourth berth still being developed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Brink said the port is now fully operational serves two to three vessels a month, on average.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re doing the general type of cargo, but we\u2019ve got the capability of doing containerized cargo,\u201d said.<\/p>\n

In terms of security, Brink said he was \u201cvery comfortable\u201d with the Rwandan and Mozambican armed forces. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had any incidents since I have been on this site.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palma and Mocimboa da Praia Districts have seen most of the displaced people return home.<\/p>\n

Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, Rwanda’s Defence and Military Spokesperson, said: \u201cStatistically, the figure that we have is, roughly, between 250,000 and 300,000, which in general, appears to be just about half of the total that had left. But in Palma and Mocimboa da Praia, we can say that about 80 per cent have returned back.”<\/p>\n\r\n