The Southern African Development Community (SADC) intervention force in Mozambique has suffered another casualty after one of its soldiers was killed following an encounter with insurgents in the southeast African country, the mission announced on Tuesday.
The SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) said in a statement that the soldier was killed while six others were injured during a joint raid on June 9 by the regional force and Mozambican troops on a base for the insurgents in Mozambique’s troubled Cabo Delgado province.
“SAMIM forces, together with friendly forces, suffered seven casualties – one fatality and six injuries,’ SAMIM said.
It added that the injured regional troops were recuperating “and are on their way to recovery.”
The clashes occurred in the Namambo forest of Macomia and the raid involved SAMIM, Mozambique’s Special Police, and the country’s Defence Armed Forces.
The joint forces recovered AK-47 assault rifles, ammunition and magazines and “terrorists were killed and others suffered severe injuries,” the statement said.
The SADC force involves troops from Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
They are assisting Mozambique to repel Islamic State-linked insurgents who have wreaked havoc in the oil-rich Cabo Delgado province since 2017.
JN/APA