The Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), a Mozambican non-governmental organization, said this Sunday that the withdrawal of the South African Military Mission (SAMIM) from Cabo Delgado province in the north of the country would “weaken the ‘fight against terrorism’.”
“This is a strategic mistake by the government of Mozambique, the SADC countries. [Comunidade de Desenvolvimento da África Austral] and cooperative partners who have stopped funding the mission, which will give terrorists more room to operate and weaken the ability to fight terrorism and violent extremism,” the CDD statement said.
On the 23rd, Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Veronica Macamo, announced that SAMIM, which supports Mozambique in the fight against rebel groups in Cabo Delgado, would leave the country due to financial constraints.
“SAMIM is facing some financial problems and we [Moçambique] We will also have to take care of our troops and it will be difficult for us to pay BY OURSELVES. Countries are not able to invest the necessary money (…),” Veronica Macamo said on the public channel Televisão de Moçambique (TVM), without giving specific dates.
In response to this statement, the CDD said this Sunday that the decision to leave the SADC military comes “in the context of an increase in attacks and the emergence of new terrorist leaders.”
The NGO points out that SADC had already announced on 17 August 2023 in Luanda that its soldiers would leave Mozambique starting on 16 June, but at that time “the situation was under control, especially after the death in action of Ibn Omar.” national leader of an armed group operating in Cabo Delgado.
“Now, in addition to the narrative that the situation is under control, there is a shortage of funds and the need to pay more attention to the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there is a regional contingent,” says CDD.
On the 26th, Mozambican government spokesman Filiman Suaze stated that the current state of war with the rebels in the province of Cabo Delgado justified the withdrawal of SAMIM.
“The situation we are in now is very different from the one we were in when these forces arrived in Mozambique. The current situation already justifies their withdrawal,” Suaze said.
“These missions always have a deadline, for starting and for finishing them (…). We hope that all assumptions will be met so that by the end of July these forces will return without any obstacles, understanding that there is a need for his return to Mozambique, so be it,” he added.
The province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency for six years, with the extremist group Islamic State claiming responsibility for some attacks.
The insurgency, which has intensified since December 2023 with several attacks on the population and military forces, has led to a military response since July 2021, supported first by Rwanda with more than 2,000 troops, as well as SADC liberating areas near gas projects.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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