Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said this Thursday that terrorists in Cabo Delgado are “in constant flight, agony and suffocation” under the pressure of recent weeks’ military operations, and called for their voluntary surrender without reprisals.
“The people of Mozambique have never been a people of hatred. They can come back, they will be with us and we will build our country. Remember that you will not live forever in the forest, away from your families. Come back and join others Mozambicans will develop the country,” the head of state said.
“Bring your weapons, surrender,” he insisted during the official VE Day speech of the Lusaka Accords, the central act of which will take place this Thursday in the city of Maxix, Inhambane province, in which he acknowledged that “there are already so many” who gave himself over the past months.
“Stubborn terrorists in small groups are in constant flight, agony and suffocation,” Filipe Nyusi described.
“I will use this ceremony to invite the Mozambicans, who are still in the forest, on the side of the terrorists, to surrender to the authorities with the guarantee that they will be welcomed with open arms, as is the case with those who gave up crime today. [esta quinta-feira] are safe with their families and friends,” he repeated.
Since October 2017, “certain areas of the province of Cabo Delgado have become victims of international terrorism”, which “has already claimed the lives of more than 2,000 Mozambicans, destroyed the social fabric of the region, as well as the economic and social infrastructure, both public and private.” “, took over.
The president commended the Defense and Security Forces for being quick to protect “the people and their assets,” but acknowledged that “in dealing with a new type of threat” they “didn’t have much difficulty” in the beginning.
Despite this, according to him, “over time and gradually” the military “raise the level of operations”, counting on the rear with “affectionate” local forces, consisting of former participants in the national liberation struggle, with field experience – the one who “contributed his contribution on the battlefield and was able to pass on the knowledge.”
“Dealing hard blows against terrorists,” Filipe Nyusi described, pointing out the results of the fighting on August 8 and 22, in which the Mozambican Bonomade Machude, known as Ibn (or Ibin) Omar, or Abu Surak, considered the leader of “terrorist operations” in Mozambique, along with “two other prominent fighters”.
“Some do not believe, but they must believe. This is impossible, ”Nyusi insisted on the death of Ibn Omar.
However, he warned: “We are not saying that terrorism is over, and we will not have the courage to say so.”
The security situation has “greatly improved” and a significant part of the displaced population “has already returned to their places of origin”, but these casualties “do not mean that terrorism is over. We understand that winning a battle is not synonymous with winning a war,” he stressed.
“We call on all Mozambicans to be vigilant against any strange movements in the communities, to warn the authorities, and throughout the country,” the head of state also addressed.
This Thursday, Mozambique celebrates the day of the signing of the peace agreement in the country, signed with the Portuguese government on September 7, 1974 in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, which preceded the independence of Mozambique.
The President of the Republic said that this Thursday 1,190 veterans of the national liberation struggle were awarded throughout the country, 17,651 former combatants were awarded this title.
“This is more than just a chest decoration, it is the recognition of all Mozambicans,” he said, urging young people “to preserve what was won at the cost of great sacrifices of the elders.”
“Today [esta quinta-feira], 49 years later, the sun continues to shine on our territory, one and indivisible. Mozambique has the same territorial dimension, reclaimed in light of the Lusaka Accords, this feat is the responsibility of the so-called 9/25 generation and those who inherited from them the defense of our sovereignty,” he concluded.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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