APA – Maputo (Mozambique) – The Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (FADM) on Thursday confirmed they have killed two commanders of an Islamic State-linked terrorist group operating in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
Local media quoted a military source as saying that the two insurgent leaders are Abu Kital, the deputy commander of operations of the Ahlu-Sunnah wal Jama’a (ASWJ) group and Ali Mahando, who, like the former, held important positions within the group, was put out of action.
The statement said the commanders were neutralized “as a result of the ongoing operations to combat terrorist actions carried out in Cabo Delgado in collaboration with “friendly forces.”
The Mozambican army, Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) and a mission from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have joint military operations in Cabo Delgado, which had been destabilised by the
Islamist groups since 2017, killing more than 4,000 civilians.
Since July 2021, Rwanda has started deploying 1,000-strong forces to Mozambique to help it combat worsening violence in the gas-rich northern Cabo Delgado province.
Before the deployment of Rwandan troops in 2021, the fighters linked to ISIL (ISIS) have been in control of the key port town of Mocimboa da Praia, while also forcing the French energy firm Total to suspend its $20bn LNG project.
In August 2021, Rwandan troops, aided by Mozambican security forces, took the coastal city of Mocimboa da Praia, a significant insurgent stronghold with a district headquarters and an airport.
It is believed that, yet the militants have lost the city of Mocimboa da Praia, they have moved into the jungle from where they’re planning to launch a new insurgency campaign.
CU/as/APA