Nyusi challenges police to strengthen strategies against terrorists

Maputo, 18 Jul (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has challenged the Mozambican Police (PRM) to strengthen its operational strategies in the fight against islamist terrorists in the northern province of Cabo Delgado “although it is not the traditional remit of the Police.”

According to Nyusi, who was speaking, on Wednesday, in Maputo, at the opening of a meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Ministry of the Interior, “we appreciate the Police effort in the fight against terrorism, but we acknowledge this is not the traditional remit of the PRM. That’s why, as soon as the government realized it was terrorism, it tried to activate military defense.”

The President also challenged the Police to introduce new strategies to arrest the masterminds of the kidnappings of business people in the country.

He was clearly irritated that to date not a single kingpin in the kidnap gangs has been arrested and presented to the public.

“Kidnapping is still a challenge for our National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic)”, said Nyusi. “Bring us at least one of those who is ordering the kidnappings!”.

He was confident that, if the heads of the kidnap gangs are publicly exposed “then you will see that the narrative will change. Those who command the kidnappings are cowards. It’s enough for us to take a certain measure, and they immediately run away. Some suddenly invent trips abroad and they never return”.

Nyusi said the police have enough information to study and design better strategies for fighting against the kidnappers.

“The Interior Ministry has heavy responsibilities in creating a better business environment for the growth of the national economy”, he stressed. “Whenever things go badly, society points the finger at the police. So it’s important to try to guarantee that your work is effective”.

Nyusi praised the dedication and commitment of the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS), the Southern African Development Community Military Mission to Mozambique (SAMIM) and the Rwandan Forces in stabilizing security and guaranteeing the movement of people and goods in Cabo Delgado.

He noted that nowadays “when the FDS attacks terrorist bases and recovers towns, it’s the police who take over”.

(AIM)

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