Leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Tuesday, October 5, agreed to extend their military mission – which intervened in Mozambique in July – so as to continue with offensive operations helping the government fight the Islamic State-linked insurgency. A regional Summit considered the progress report of the regional coordination mechanism on the operations of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), and commended its leadership and their troops “for the remarkable achievements made” since the deployment of the Mission in July 2021. Without putting a new time limit, they decided to extend the mission’s deployment beyond the initial three months. The SADC troop deployment was initially for three months and was due to end on October 15. “Summit commended Member States that have contributed personnel, equipment and financial resources for the deployment of the SAMIM in support of the Republic of Mozambique to combat acts of terrorism and violent extremism,” reads part of the Summit’s Communiqué issued after leaders including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, met in Pretoria, South Africa. The regional Summit expressed its unwavering commitment to continue supporting Mozambique in achieving peace and security in some districts of central and northern Cabo Delgado province. Apart from Ramaphosa, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Namibia’s President Hage Geingob, attended the Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Organ Troika plus Mozambique in Pretoria. Ramaphosa told the summit that “the coming few months will be critical in shaping the trajectory of the SADC intervention in Mozambique”. Three SAMIM soldiers, two Tanzanians and one from Botswana have died in the mission. “Summit expressed deep condolences to the families and Governments of the Republic of Botswana and the United Republic of Tanzania for the loss of three soldiers who were serving under the SAMIM.” A SAMIM statement last weekend indicated that following an offensive operation carried out on September 25, in Nangade District, Rajab Awadhi Ndanjile (Dr Njile) a leader of the terrorists was killed along with 18 other terrorists. Ndanjile was the leader of the religious sect in Nangade District where he was instrumental in the recruitment and indoctrination of members of the group. He was involved in the orchestration of the first attack on the strategic port city of Mocimboa da Praia on October 5, 2017 and subsequent terrorists’ attacks on villages, abduction of women and children who were later turned into terrorists’ combatants. Rwandan and Mozambican forces, on August 8, recaptured Mocimboa da Praia, and they, lately, repulsed the terrorists from all areas in which the joint forces are operating from. On July 9, Rwanda, at the request of Mozambique, deployed 1,000 troops to Cabo Delgado to help fight the terrorists, stabilize the area and restore the authority of the state. Rwandan troops were sent to work closely with Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (FADM) and forces from SADC, in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado. Hope is steadily returning to the areas where Rwandan and Mozambican forces are operating after the latter repulsed the terrorists. Rwandan and Mozambican forces on August 28 started helping hundreds of people previously displaced by the terrorists to return to their homes. More than 20,000 previously displaced people have so far returned home and resumed their normal lives in areas like Palma. President Nyusi on September 25 thanked the people of Rwanda and President Paul Kagame for having quickly understood his country’s need for help and acted accordingly to help thwart a threat posed by terrorists. Cabo Delgado has 16 districts but the ones most affected by the insurgents’ terror activities were Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, Mueda, Mocamia and Muidumbe. After defeating the insurgents in Palma, Mocimboa da Praia, and Mueda – the regions where Rwandan troops operate - the joint forces are now combing through most of the recaptured territory to ensure remnants of the terrorists do not resurface to undermine the peace. The SADC forces areas of operation are in Macomia, Nangade, Muidumbe and Quissanga districts.
