Daesh claims attack and death of nine soldiers in Mozambique

Daesh claims to have attacked and killed nine soldiers in Mozambique this Friday, has claimed responsibility for an attack in Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique that it says killed nine soldiers, the second attack of its kind known this month .

According to information provided by the terrorist group on its propaganda channels, the attack took place this week, but did not specify the location.

Lusa has not yet been able to confirm the veracity of this information on the ground, and the Mozambican government does not comment on such attacks.

Daesh claims nine soldiers were attacked and killed in Mozambique.

According to information provided by the terrorist group on its propaganda channels, the attack was recorded on video and took place in the village of Manhicha in Muidumbe district, leading to the exodus of the population.

The province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency for six years, with some attacks claimed by Daesh, claiming the attack and death of nine soldiers in Mozambique, leading to a military response since July 2021 with support from Rwanda and the Community Development of South Africa (SADC), liberating areas close to gas projects.

The conflict has already displaced one million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and nearly 4,000 people have died, according to the ACLED Conflict Recording Project.

On November 22, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi asked for “decisions” on the military’s response capabilities in Cabo Delgado, especially with reservists, given the planned withdrawal of foreign forces supporting terrorist groups on the ground.

“Specific decisions on the response capabilities of the Armed Forces regarding their actions to combat terrorism in Cabo Delgado in the period following the withdrawal of friendly forces from CAMIM. [missão da SADC em Moçambique] and Rwanda,” asked Nyusi at the opening of the XXIV Coordination Council of the Ministry of Defense.

“To this end, your consideration should also evaluate how best to capitalize on the pool of reservists by engaging them directly or indirectly in various missions in favor of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. And the current reality justifies this,” he added.

Last August, the SADC summit approved a 12-month extension of the Cabo Delgado mission until July next year. Last July, an assessment mission proposed a complete withdrawal of SAM soldiers from Cabo Delgado by July 2024, noting that the situation in the province is “currently calm” despite prevailing risks.

In its recommendations, the assessment mission advises that the withdrawal of SAMIM should begin gradually from December 15 this year and be completed on July 15, 2024, a day before the end of the extension period determined on Tuesday. On Friday last week the SADC troika.

In addition to SAMIM and Mozambican government forces, Rwandan troops are fighting insurgents in Cabo Delgado, operating along the perimeter of the area where gas projects are taking place in the Rovuma Basin.