MOZAMBIQUE PRESIDENT VISITS TANZANIA AMID BORDER JIHADIST TENSION

MAPUTO, Mozambique

Mozambique President, Felipe Nyusi is due to arrive in Tanzania on Monday January 11 for a two-day official visit amid muslim jihadists tension at countries border.

President Nyusi is expected to arrive at Chato Airport in Geita Region, where he will be received by President John Magufuli of Tanzania.

The violence in Mozambique's gas-rich Cabo Delgado began in October 2017 when members of an armed group, which later pledged allegiance to ISIL, attacked police stations in the key port town of Mocimboa da Praia. 

Since then, more than 2,200 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Mozambique’s army has struggled to contain the fighters, who have regularly beaten back the country’s security forces and air support from a private military group to capture and hold key locations during violent raids.

Emboldened the fighters have recently expanded their sphere of operation north into Tanzania, crossing the Rovuma River that marks the border between the two countries to carry out raids on villages in Tanzania’s Mtwara region.

Briefing the media in Chato yesterday, Tanzania's Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister Palamagamba Kabudi said Nyusi was initially scheduled to visit Tanzania last year, but the tour was postponed because of the October 28, 2020 elections in Tanzania.

"This is an appropriate time for the visit - especially after the conclusion of the 2020 General Election. Since the visit comes when President Magufuli is in his home town Chato, that is where he will welcome his state guest,” he said.

Diplomatic ties will be on the agenda, especially on key areas of bilateral relations including security, economy, politics and social affairs as outlined by the founding fathers of the ruling parties in both countries.

"Tanzania and Mozambique have historic relations. The Makuwa tribe found in Southern Tanzania is also found in Mozambique. The two countries also collectively shed their blood during the liberation struggles for Mozambique,” Prof Kabudi said.

The historic brotherhood, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries have kept being strengthened - and Tanzania exports food and commercial crops as well as low-cost manufactured products to Mozambique.

Kabudi said that, according to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) statistics, the value of exports between the two countries amounted to Sh76.4 billion in 2018 and Sh93.5 billion in 2019 respectively.

Mozambique’s jihadist violence has forced the French energy firm Total to suspend work at its multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project in the country’s northern Cabo Delgado province.

Last year, Mozambique and Tanzania signed a memorandum of understanding to join efforts in the battle against the escalating armed campaign by the fighters in Cabo Delgado.

The agreement, sealed by the two countries’ police forces bosses included the extradition of 516 fighters from Tanzania to its southern neighbour, Mozambique’s.