Mozambique pray for US support to fight terrorism in Cabo Delgado

WASHINGTON, USA

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, asked in Washington on Thursday for “more support” from the United States of America for the Mozambican military and the forces of other countries fighting terrorism in the province of Cabo Delgado.

Nyusi yesterday began a visit to the North American capital, during which he gave a lecture addressing Mozambique’s experience in post-conflict reconstruction, as well as from natural disasters, at the National War College.

“I reported that progress in this fight would be at a much more advanced level if we had more resources. In view of this, I asked for more support from the United States for the efforts of the Defence and Security Forces of Mozambique, but also of the friendly troops of Rwanda and the SADC Military Mission, who are currently in Cabo Delgado fighting the enemies of our development,” Nyusi explained in a message released after the lecture.

“We want to continue achieving successes in eradicating terrorism from our country,” he added.

Filipe Nyusi had already stated on Tuesday in New York that the support that Mozambique is receiving in the fight against terrorism is an example of how Africa can solve its problems, but pointed out that the forces on the ground need more financing.

“This pioneering experience of combining bilateral and multilateral intervention is also an example of the resolution of African problems by Africans themselves. However, the question that arises is the need for substantial support to these countries, directly and indirectly helping us fight terrorism in Mozambique, in order to make ongoing operations sustainable,” Filipe Nyusi said in his address to the 78th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mozambique’s Armed Defence Forces have been fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado province since July 2021. Attacks starting in October 2017 have conditioned the progress of natural gas production projects in the region.

“We have been achieving visible successes on the ground, despite terrorists continuing to sporadically create terror and fear in isolated villages. With the improvement in order and tranquillity, the population has been returning en masse to their areas of origin, restarting life with normality,” Nyusi told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

The terrorist organisation Islamic State claims to have executed 11 Christians in Mocímboa da Praia district, Cabo Delgado, last week. Sources however have told Lusa of at least 12 deaths on site and several injured in the attack on Naquitenge, a village in the interior of that district, last Friday.

The conflict in northern Mozambique has already displaced one million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and cost 4,000 lives, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.