MAPUTO,
Mozambique
The Mozambican defence and security forces have killed six ringleaders of the islamist terrorists operating in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, according to a report in “Noticias de Defesa”, an unofficial website that supports the Mozambican forces.
One of those killed was
a Tanzanian national, and two were described as “Arabs”. The operations in
which they were killed took place in Macomia and Muidumbe districts, where the
defence forces are driving terrorists out of their hideouts.
The “Noticias de
Defesa” source says the terrorists are running short of supplies, and some of
their main bases have been dismantled. As a result members of the terrorist
groups are now deserting.
Three of the young
terrorist recruits have abandoned the Cabo Delgado bush and plan to apply for
the amnesty promised by President Filipe Nyusi to those who voluntarily leave
the terrorist ranks. The three were apparently recruited in the neighbouring
province of Nampula, and efforts are being made to return them safely to their
home district of Memba.
Police sources said
that recruits have been attracted to the terrorist cause, not because of any
religious or ideological conviction, but because they have been promised large
sums of money.
These reports are in
line with claims made in late January that the jihadists are running out of
food. A man who escaped from a terrorist camp in Manilha village, in Mocimboa
da Praia district, told the independent newssheet “Carta de Mocambique” that
“there are no conditions for survival” in the islamist bases.
There is no more food,
he said, and the terrorists can no longer steal food from villagers, because
they have all fled from the area.
This survivor claimed
there had been a meeting in January between the local jihadists, and a
Tanzanian citizen, apparently the commander of the group. The Tanzanian said
they could no longer carry out armed attacks, because there was no money.
He advised the
Mozambicans to return to their places of origins. The Mozambicans protested
that this was impossible – they feared for their lives, if they were to show
their faces in their home villages.
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