Rwandan forces deployed last month to help Mozambique’s army battle jihadists on Sunday declared that they have now recaptured and taken control of the key northern port of Mocimboa da Praia from the extremist militants.
In a tweet sighted on Monday, the Rwandan Defence Forces stated that; ‘The port city of Mocimboa da Praia, a major stronghold of the insurgency for more than two years has been captured by Rwandan and Mozambican security forces’.
Force spokesman colonel Ronald Rwivanga confirmed this to correspondents, saying ‘yes (Mocimboa da Praia) has fallen’.
Read Also: Mozambique To Crush Jihadists In North With Foreign Help
The port town, from where the first Islamist attacks were staged in October 2017, has since last year become the de-facto headquarters of the Islamic State-linked extremists, locally referred to as Al-Shabab.
Mocimboa da Praia “was the last stronghold of the insurgents, marking the end of the first phase of counter-insurgency operations which is dislodging insurgents from the stronghold,” Rwivanga said in a text message.
Rwanda sent in 1,000 troops last month to shore up Mozambican military forces that have been struggling to regain control over the northern Cabo Delgado province, which is home to one of Africa’s biggest liquefied natural gas projects.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the forces last week claimed their first success since deploying, saying they had helped the Mozambique army regain control of Awasse — a small but also strategic settlement near Mocimboa da Praia.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
