(3 minutes read)
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said there had been significant progress in tackling a militant insurgency in northern Mozambique
- He was referring to the visit of the multinational force deployed there last year to defuse the tension
- Ramaphosa, was addressing a meeting of the defense and security section of the Southern African Development (SADC) bloc, which he chairs to assess developments in the region.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said there had been significant progress in tackling a militant insurgency in northern Mozambique. He was referring to the visit of the multinational force deployed there last year to defuse the tension. Ramaphosa, was addressing a meeting of the defense and security section of the Southern African Development (SADC) bloc, which he chairs to assess developments in the region.
SADC members and Rwanda stepped in six months ago to assist the beleaguered Mozambican army. They have brought together more than 3,000 troops. There have been positive developments since the deployment of the forces, Ramaphosa observed. The security council meeting is taking place in the Malawian capital.
The security situation in Cabo Delgado was improving, Ramaphosa said, adding that it has allowed some internally-displaced persons to return to their homes and resume their normal lives. Operating alongside Mozambican troops, regional forces have helped to create “safe passage” for bringing humanitarian aid into jihadist-hit areas. Cabo Delgado, a gas-rich province bordering Tanzania, has been gripped by attacks by Islamic State-linked militants since 2017.In the violent attacks 3,500 people have died and around 820,000 have fled their homes.
