PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA CONFIRMS SANDF TROOPS IN MOZAMBIQUE TO EVACUATE SOUTH AFRICANS

Fri 02 April 2021:

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has deployed troops to repatriate South Africans stuck in war-torn north Mozambique, EWN reported

The president said soldiers are evacuating citizens in the Cabo Delgado province following a deadly attack last week by insurgents.

Speaking outside a wreath-laying ceremony for Winnie-Madikizela-Mandela, Ramaphosa said SANDF is working hard on securing the safety of those stranded in the troubled region.

“We have already attended to the issue of evacuating those South Africans that are stranded in Mozambique, and already one of those who passed away the SANDF has brought them back. We remain involved with securing the safety our people in Mozambique in Pemba and in Palma.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the SANDF is working hard on securing the safety of South Africans who are stranded in Mozambique. He says the army is working on evacuating more people. The president gave the update during a wreath-laying ceremony for Ma Winnie-Madikizela-Mandela. pic.twitter.com/YFymm7Xilh

— eNCA (@eNCA) April 2, 2021

The heavily armed militants took control of the coastal towns of Pemba and Palma, forcing terrified residents and foreigners to flee.

One South African was killed in the attack while at least 43 others have been accounted for following the raid.

An armed militant group believed to be affiliated with the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group attacked the town of Palma in Cabo Delgado province near the border with Tanzania last Wednesday, killing dozens and injuring scores of others. Several people are still unaccounted for.

The northern province of Mozambique is rich in natural gas, and companies such as France’s Total SE are to extract liquefied natural gas (LNG) from offshore sites in the Indian Ocean, but experts say such attacks could derail the project.

Investments by Total and others are estimated at $23 billion, one of the largest investments on the continent.

The armed group, locally known as al-Shabaab but with no established links to the armed militant group in Somalia, has wreaked havoc in northern Mozambique since late 2017, killing hundreds, displacing communities, and capturing towns.

African leaders to help Mozambique fight insurgents

Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a block of 16 countries, are consulting on how to help Mozambique fight insurgents wreaking havoc in its northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi, current chairperson of the SADC Troika Organ on Politics, Defense and Security, said Wednesday he has held discussions with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa on ways to help Mozambique fight terrorism.

Talking to reporters during a visit to Zimbabwe, Masisi said the SADC will ensure that assaults by dissident, rebellious and non-state forces do not undermine the democratic credentials and peace in the region.