Mozambique president visits Rwandan troops in Cabo Delgado

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday, February 22, visited Rwandan troops fighting terrorism in his country’s northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Nyusi visited the Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) in Ancuabe, one of the districts that had been paralysed by terrorist attacks before Rwanda deployed troops in the Southern African country in July 2021.

Rwanda and Mozambique cooperate in ways that include military operations in Cabo Delgado, where their armed forces fight against Islamic State-linked terrorists.

ALSO READ: Cabo Delgado: Over 250,000 people return home, sea, air ports re-open

According to a statement by Rwanda Defence Force, President Nyusi “commended the work done by RSF and [Mozambican armed forces] in pacifying the district and called on them to maintain momentum in halting the terrorists’ activities southwards.”

Nyusi, who was accompanied by Mozambique’s Defence Minister Maj Gen Cristovão Artur Chume, was received by RDF Army Chief of Staff Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, who is in Cabo Delgado for a tour of duty.

Also present was RSF Commander Maj Gen Alex Kagame, RSF Police Component Commander and staff officers.

Nyakarundi briefed the Rwandan troops on the security situation back home and “requested them to remain focused and committed to their mission,” the RDF said.

ALSO READ: Rwanda, Mozambique step up fight against terrorism – President Nyusi

Nyusi was in Rwanda in January, when he met with President Paul Kagame and discussed ways to strengthen the existing productive bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.

At Maputo’s request, Kigali deployed troops in July 2021 to fight Islamist terrorists, who had for several years destabilised Cabo Delgado, a region located on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Barely two weeks after deployment, Rwandan and Mozambican forces were circling major bases of the terrorists, capturing them.

As of November 2022, more than 2,500 Rwandan military and police officers were based in Cabo Delgado.

Until the Rwandan deployment, Islamic State-linked terrorists wreaked havoc in the coastal region rich in natural gas, killing more than 4,000 civilians and displacing tens of thousands of residents since 2017.

ALSO READ: Cabo Delgado: Over 90% terrorist-hit area secure – Mozambican general

More than 250,000 residents of Cabo Delgado, who were displaced by the insurgency, have returned to their homes. Economic activities have resumed in the coastal districts such as Palma, Mocimboa da Praia and Ancuabe, which had been paralysed by terrorist attacks since 2017.

A mission from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) operates in Nangade, Muidumbe and Quissanga. However, the Rwandan, Mozambican and SADC forces carry out joint operations from time to time.

In December 2023, the forces said they were planning to launch renewed attacks on the terrorists now located in a forested area in the district of Macomia.