The Mozambican army has regained control of a coastal town that was captured by Islamic State-linked militants about two weeks ago, an official announced on Monday.
Army spokesperson Chongo Vidigal said the Mozambique defence and security forces had killed a number of militants belonging to a group known locally as Al Shabaab and drove out several others from Palma town.
“We have completed the clearing (of the town). It was the only sensitive area that we needed to clear. … It is completely safe,” Vidigal told the state-owned TVM television channel.
Palma was overrun by insurgents following an attack that began on March 24, resulting in thousands of people fleeing the town for the provincial capital Pemba.
Dozens of others were, however, killed in the attacks.
The announcement by the Mozambican army comes days before the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperationis scheduled to meet to discuss the insurgency that poses a major threat to the region.
An extraordinary summit of the SADC Double Troika is scheduled for the Mozambican capital Maputo on Thursday to discuss a regional response to the security crisis in the country.
The SADC Double Troika comprises Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
JN/APA