The Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s intervention force in Mozambique is transitioning from a purely military force to a multi-dimensional mission combining military, civilian, police and correctional services, the regional bloc said late Thursday.
It said the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) is in the process of “transitioning from Scenario Six whose emphasis was on military operations to Scenario Five, which is a multidimensional mission combining operations of military, civilian, police and correctional services components being brought to bear on the situation in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique.”
Acting SAMIM head of mission Xolani Mankayi said the transitioning would result in the police, correctional service and the civilian components, inclusive of the military, working jointly to restore peace and stability in the province.
He noted that the process of peace-building in Cabo Delgado would only be successful with the synchronisation of operations by the military, civilian, police and correctional components of the intervention in the continued fight against terrorism.
SAMIM was deployed in July 2021 as part of SADC efforts to assist Mozambique contain an insurgence by Islamic State-linked jihadists who have wreaked havoc in the mineral-rich north of the country since 2017.
The conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis impacting all its inhabitants and resulting in the displacement of over 800,000 people.
JN/APA