MAPUTO,
Mozambique
The Southern African Mission in Mozambique (Samim) has killed 17 terrorists operating in Cabo Delgado province after their base in Chitama was destroyed, the mission said Sunday in a statement.
The Saturday battle in
Chitama also left one of Samim’s members dead and three others injured. The
injured soldiers are said to be recovering well, the mission’s statement adds.
According to the
statement, the forces on Sunday engaged in a gun battle with another group of
terrorists south of Messalo River. One insurgent was killed and three rifles
were recovered. Another terrorist has also been captured and is being
questioned.
In July, the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) countries started deploying forces to
assist the Mozambican Defence Force fight insurgency and terrorism in the
northern region.
Rwanda
was the first to send 1,000 troops to Mozambique. Botswana followed with a
contingent of 296 while South Africa deployed 1,500 soldiers.
Zimbabwe
also sent 304 military instructors to train Mozambican soldiers to fight the
insurgents.
Apart
from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, Angola also forms part of the Samim.
By
the end of July, Rwandan soldiers said they had fought a series of engagements
against the extremists, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 insurgents.
On
August 8, Rwandan forces took control of the key northern port of Mocimboa da
Praia from the extremist militants.
“Rwanda
will continue to be a good partner, a good friend to Mozambique,” Rwandan
President Paul Kagame said Saturday in Cabo Delgado’s capital Pemba.
“We
will continue to work together, including with other partners, to transform our
continent for the better,” he added.
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