By Our Correspondent, DODOMA Tanzania
The government of Tanzania has sent troops to it’s border with
Mozambique to boost security after insurgents launch attacks in the northern
Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
Attack in the village of Naunde, Mozambique |
In February this year, the group attacked security forces and civilians
in Cabo Delgado, killing people, destroying property and seizing firearms and
ammunitions.
Last month, the group reportedly massacred at least 50 people in
Muidumbe district when they over-ran the district’s capital Namacunde and
occupied the district police command.
Media reports say the United Nations has recorded 28 attacks in the area
since the beginning of 2020, which killed up to 400 people and displaced at
least 100 000 others.
Requesting Parliament to endorse a total of Sh2.1 trillion for the
Ministry of Defence and National Service for the 2020/21 financial year, the
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jenista Mhagama, said troops
were dispatched to the area despite the fact that it was generally calm on the
Tanzanian side.
Mhagama was presenting the budget estimates on behalf of her Defence and
National Services counterpart, Hussein Mwinyi, who was attending to other
government duties.
Tanzania's Chief of Defence Forces General Venance Mabeyo |
She said troops have been dispatched to the border close to Mtwara Region
to contain security threats posed by Al Sunnah wa Jama’ah (ASWJ) insurgents.
“In March this year, the government dispatched troops to Msimbati and
Sindano areas in Mtwara as well as Chiwindi in Nyasa District, Ruvuma Region,
in order to strengthen security along the coun-try’s 1,536-kilometre borders
with Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia,” she said.
Media reports from Mozambique say the insurgency was part of a struggle
for the control of Cabo Del-gado’s oil, gas and mineral riches.
She said the ministry was requesting for approval of Sh2.141 trillion
for 2020/21. The amount is Sh286.997 billion (15.4 percent) more than the
Sh1.854 trillion endorsed for 2019/20.
In the coming fiscal year, she said the ministry will continue to
improve the military through provision of modern equipment, communication tools
and human resource. “Improving the working environment of soldiers, including
training, preservation of equipment and infrastructure, welfare and improved
services in terms of health, office and housing will be among the priorities,”
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