The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council reiterated today in Maputo its support for Mozambique in combating armed violence in Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, a province that has seen attacks by rebel groups since 2017.
The African Union reaffirms "its commitment to continue supporting efforts to eradicate terrorism and violent extremism and restore peace in that northern part of Mozambican territory", said Miguel Bembe, president of the AU Peace and Security Council, during a meeting with the Mozambican deputy minister of foreign affairs in Maputo.
Miguel Bembe added that the AU Peace and Security Council mission will also "obtain first-hand information on the humanitarian situation" in that province.
Bembe also said that he will learn about the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process of former guerrillas from the largest opposition party, Renamo, to learn about the "major challenges that still remain and that may deserve the support of the African Union".
"We know that there is a DDR program in place and I think that there are several lessons learned over this time that can serve as a reference for other countries", he concluded.
Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed rebellion since October 2017, with attacks claimed by movements associated with the extremist group Islamic State.
The last major attack took place on 10 and 11 May at the district headquarters of Macomia, with around a hundred insurgents looting the town, causing several deaths and heavy fighting with the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces.
The population of other districts in the province has reported the movement of these groups of insurgents, who cause panic as they pass through the forests, but there have been no reports of clashes, which is happening at a time when farmers are trying to harvest their fields.
The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, stated on June 16 that the action of the various defense forces has made it possible to eliminate "practically all" of the bases of the terrorist groups operating in Cabo Delgado.
"The result of this combination of forces is surprising. They have managed to deactivate the terrorists in all the towns and villages that had been occupied, destroyed practically all of the enemy's fixed bases, turning them into nomads, and put many violent extremists out of action, including some of their main leaders," said Nyusi, in Mueda, Cabo Delgado province.
The head of state acknowledged the efforts of the Mozambican Armed Defence Forces, together with the Rwandan military, the mission of the southern African countries - which concluded its total withdrawal on 4 July - and the Local Force, made up of former combatants from the national liberation struggle, in combating these groups over the last six years.
"They are out there in the bush, but they no longer stay in one place because they are afraid of being found", he added, renewing his appeal to the population "to continue to reinforce their vigilance".
