Rwandan forces, deployed last July to lend a hand to the Mozambican army in its fight against the jihadists, claimed, Sunday, August 8, to have regained control of the strategic port of Mocimboa da Praia from the insurgents.
"The port city of Mocimboa da Praia, a major stronghold of the insurgency for more than two years, has been taken by Rwandan and Mozambican security forces," the Rwandan Defense Forces said in a tweet.
Colonel Ronald Rwivanga, spokesman for the Rwandan army, confirmed to AFP that Mocimba da Praia "fell".
JUST IN: The port city of Mocímboa da Praia, a major stronghold of the insurgency for more than two years has been captured by Rwandan and Mozambican security forces.
The city also holds the District Headquarters and Airport.
END
- Rwanda Defense Force (@RwandaMoD) August 8, 2021
The port city, the target of the first jihadist attack in Mozambique in October 2017, had been in the hands of insurgents since August 12, 2020. It had become the de facto headquarters of local jihadists, known as Al-Shabab (" young people "in Arabic).
Mocimboa da Praia, "last stronghold of the insurgents"
Mocimboa da Praia "was the last stronghold of the insurgents", its reconquest "marks the end of the first phase of counter-insurgency operations," said Colonel Rwivanga.
Rwanda sent a thousand troops in early July to support the Mozambican armed forces struggling to regain control of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, which is home to one of Africa's largest liquefied natural gas projects.
The Rwandan forces had claimed, in early August, their first successes since their deployment, announcing that they had helped the Mozambican army to regain control of Awasse, a small strategic village located near Mocimboa da Praia.
With AFP
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