Operation Cabo Delgado "headache" as Kagame meet Mozambican President

By Edwin Ashimwe, KIGALI Rwanda

President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, on Thursday morning hosted his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Nyusi for a meeting under which discussions revolved around ongoing efforts to secure Cabo Delgado Province.

Details of the meeting were not immediately disclosed, but the office of the President noted that the leaders discussed ‘good’ progress made between Rwanda and Mozambican troops in the area that had for years been ravaged by ISIS-linked terror groups.

President Nyusi’s visit comes close to seven months after the Rwandan government deployed troops Mozambique’s northernmost Province of Cabo Delgado to help fight the terrorists, stabilize the area as well as restore state authority.

Alongside Mozambique’s troops, the forces have since conducted counter terrorism operations and recorded major battlefield victories against the extremists.

ALSO READ: 'Mozambique doesn't have money to finance joint forces of Rwanda, SADC in Cabo Delgado' - President

Just recently, in his remarks during the swearing in of new ministers, President Kagame briefed senior government officials saying that Rwandan troops had at least captured more than 80 percent of their area of responsibility.

He said that the current task was to clear enemy pockets and also strategically train the Mozambique forces.

Linked to the Islamic State, the extremist group had rampaged across several towns and villages in the northern part of the country since 2017, during which thousands have lost their lives.

Mozambican President yesterday called on the European Union (EU) to finance the military forces of Rwanda and of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the fight against insurgents in Cabo Delgado.

“The combat involves high costs for our partners (…). They will not continue for a long time, for ever, and operations can be affected,” if there is no support, he said.

“The European Union is aware,” added Nyusi, at a press conference as he was leaving Brussels.

About the situation in Cabo Delgado, the Mozambican President left some warnings.

“We have made it clear that substantial risks prevail, although the situation is encouraging, us having occupied the district headquarters and some [rebel] bases having been fully destroyed,” he told reporters. - Africa