Maputo, 22 Oct (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has reaffirmed that the fight against the Islamist terrorists who have imposed extreme violence in the northern province of Cabo Delgado remains at the top of his government’s agenda.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, on the sidelines of his four-day working visit to Geneva, Chapo said “terrorism is our greatest concern, and we want it to end so that we can develop Mozambique in peace and security.”
Since 2017, the terrorists’ incursions have usually been recorded in Cabo Delgado. However, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that the violence is tending to spread to other regions, following the terrorist raids against the Lúrio and Chipene administrative posts, in the neighbouring province of Nampula, on 30 September and 3 October.
According to the United Nations reports, for the first time, all 17 districts of Cabo Delgado have been affected by conflict, displacing 1.3 million people, many repeatedly, since the beginning of the conflict in 2017.
“Everyone knows that terrorists are continuing to carry out sporadic attacks”, said Chapo. “People who are temporarily displaced when attacks occur later feel the need to return to their areas of origin”.
Hence, he continued, the government’s focus is to bring peace and security throughout the country, “so that the vision of economic diplomacy advanced worldwide can produce results.”
“We can be working, but if there is no peace and security, it is very difficult to develop a country”, stressed Chapo. “The Inclusive National Dialogue is precisely to consolidate our national unity, peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness among Mozambicans, and love for our neighbors. Only in this way, in harmony, in communion, in unity among brothers, can we develop Mozambique”.
He added that the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) are committed to combating terrorism on the ground, alongside their Rwandan allies, while troops from Tanzania are stationed along the cross-border region.
“Right now, we are working to ensure that the population does not suffer too much. All seven villages that had been completely taken over by terrorists are now under FDS control. As we speak here, there is no town in the province of Cabo Delgado that is occupied by terrorists”, he added.
(AIM)
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