Soldiers from Angola and Namibia leave the South African mission in Cabo Delgado

Soldiers from Angola and Namibia who are part of the South African armed forces in Cabo Delgado fighting terrorism in northern Mozambique have begun withdrawing troops, a mission source said.

According to the military mission (SAMIM) of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to which Lusa had access, a “farewell ceremony” for the two contingents was held on Tuesday, April 29 at the airport of Pemba, the capital of Cabo. Delgado, paying tribute to its members.

“You have served YOURSELF well, your work will remain in the hearts and minds of the people of Mozambique,” ​​South African Armed Forces (SANDF) Major General Patrick Dube, the mission commander, said at the ceremony.

CAMIM has been in Cabo Delgado since mid-2021, and in August 2023 SADC approved an extension for a further 12 months, until July 2024, providing for a phased withdrawal plan.

The mission includes troops from eight SADC countries, “working in collaboration with the Mozambican Armed Defense Forces and other troops stationed in Cabo Delgado.”

Mozambique’s president said Thursday that SAMIM’s departure comes after the province has been “stabilized” but some countries will remain.

“It is common knowledge that our brothers who supported us, in this particular case from SADC, leave after reaching the decisive phase of stabilization (…). Lesotho has already left, Botswana is leaving, leaving South Africa,” the head of state said in detail.

However, he added that “Tanzanian forces” remain in Mozambique, which is cooperating “bilaterally,” and the Rwandan military is also outside the CAM mission.

In his speech, the President of Mozambique did not comment on the decision of the President of South Africa, who in April announced the extension until the end of the year of the South African mission in Cabo Delgado, which had hitherto operated in CAMIM. mission, which is due to leave completely by July 14th.

A Mozambican government spokesman said on April 30 that there was still no “official communication” from the executive branch regarding the extension of the South African military’s operation in Cabo Delgado.

“Regarding the expansion of South African troops, the answer remains the same, we have no record of an official communication as the sector minister said. [Cristóvão Chume]”, said Filiman Suaze, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, after the body’s meeting.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the SANDF’s 1,495-soldier counter-terrorism operation in Cabo Delgado until December 31 this year.

In a letter addressed to the South African Parliament, to which Lusa had access, the head of state states that the extension of this mission as part of “Operation Vikela” will cost R984,368,057 (€47.8 million) and will be effective from April 16.

“Deployed elements of the SANDF will continue to carry out their responsibilities to combat terrorist attacks and extremist violence in northern Mozambique,” ​​the letter said.

Ramaphosa explains that the extension is aimed at fulfilling South Africa’s “international obligations” to SADC to combat terrorism in the region.

A group of SANDF soldiers from the SAMIM mission called Delta Team began leaving Mozambique on 13 April as part of a withdrawal process that began in early April with the Botswana military, followed by a group from Lesotho.

The President of Mozambique said on April 18 that Mozambicans must be responsible for the defense of the country before leaving THEMSELVES: “We Mozambicans have a great responsibility for the defense of Mozambique. Our friends will help us. I have already said that now we are at the stage of learning, building resistance, stabilizing the country after recovering from problems.”