Two members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) intervention force in Mozambique have been killed while fighting Islamic jihadists in the north of the country, the regional bloc said Thursday.
The SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) said Musa Mpondo from Tanzania and Zikamee Kamai of Botswana died following an encounter with Ahlu-Sunnah Wa-Jamaah insurgents in Cabo Delgado province on Tuesday.
“This unfortunate incident happened on 29th November 2022 in the general area of Nkonga Village, Nangade district during contact with the Ahlu-Sunnah Wa-Jamaah terrorists,” SAMIM said in a statement.
Another Tanzanian soldier was injured and was receiving treatment at the SAMIM Level II Hospital in Pemba, the force said.
It said at least 30 insurgents were killed during the same encounter while a sizeable number of weapons, ammunition and equipment confiscated.
SADC deployed troops in July 2021 to assist Mozambican forces to repel attacks by the Islamic State-linked insurgents who have wreaked havoc in the oil-rich Cabo Delgado region that borders Tanzania.
JN/APA