International
Terrorists' end near: Rwanda cabinet briefed on troops’ good progress in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado
An extraordinary cabinet
meeting in Rwanda was on Wednesday August 18 was briefed on current regional
dynamics including the deployment of Rwandan troops to the Central African
Republic (CAR) and especially Mozambique where Rwandans are helping rout out extremists
linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
It was noted that in
Mozambique, Rwandan forces alongside Mozambican forces had “made good progress”
recently In dislodging insurgent forces in key areas of Cabo Delgado Province,
which has led to increased security in the region.
Also noted was that, in the
spirit of African solidarity and South-South cooperation, the government of
Rwanda would continue to collaborate with the government of Mozambique as well
as other partners in the next phases of stabilisation and development.
In April, Mozambican
president, Filipe Nyusi, flew to Kigali and requested President Paul Kagame for
military support to help fight off IS insurgents who, for some years, had
terrorized the province of Cabo Delgado, cutting off some of the country's
vital cities and seaports.
Kigali listened and readied
to send in troops with one clear-cut mission - to support efforts to restore
Mozambican state authority by conducting combat and security operations, as
well as stabilization and security-sector reform.
On July 9, the deployment to
Mozambique of a 1,000-person contingent of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and
the Rwanda National Police (RNP) was started to help fight insurgents in Cabo
Delgado. Rwanda’s move was praised by many including President Nyusi who, in a
state of the nation address, explained that Rwandan forces would be in the
country under a bilateral security agreement.
Nyusi said: “Rwanda's
participation - [in the restoration of peace and stability in Cabo Delgado] -
is part of the principle of solidarity for a noble and common cause.” “It is
about saving human lives, and preventing the destruction of public and private
property and infrastructure."
The Chairperson of the AU
Commission, Amb Moussa Faki Mahamat, also commended Kigali for the intervention
which he described "as a strong and concrete act of African solidarity to
support a fellow Member State fight terrorism and insecurity." After one
month, RDF and the Mozambican military have recaptured much of the territory,
including Mocímboa da Praia, a vital seaport that served as the terrorist
headquarters and supply route.
Immediately after they
landed, Rwanda's troops quickly connected with their Mozambican counterparts
and entered the fight. Their impact was
immediate as the joint Rwanda-Mozambique offensive, from multiple fronts,
overwhelmed the insurgents. Rwandan and Mozambican troops successfully seized
territory along the important N380 highway, retaking the strategic towns of
Diaca, Awasse and the port of Mocimboa da Praia in under a month and continued
to comb through the remaining few areas where the remaining terrorists are
located.
By and large, the capture of
Mocimboa da Praia marked the end of the first phase of counter-insurgency
operations. Rwandan and Mozambican forces are now focused on continuing with
security operations to completely pacify areas under their control hoping that
displaced people will soon be able to return to their homes.