Period covered: 1 – 31 October 2024
Summary
This report presents and analyzes the evolution of the terrorist threat in Cabo Delgado in October 2024.
During this period, there was a growing trend of the terrorist threat in the province of Cabo Delgado. The districts of Macomia and Mocímboa da Praia are where the largest number of incidents were recorded, including attacks and killings of civilians in villages along the National Road nº 380 between the village of Awasse and the village of Mocímboa da Praia; Clashes between terrorist groups and the Mozambican and Rwandan Defense and Security Forces; Detonation of improvised explosive devices targeting Government troops from Mozambique and Rwanda and civilian vehicles; kidnapping, murder and decapitation of civilians by terrorists.
The government’s response was marked by the persecution of terrorist groups and some clashes, but there was no major event such as neutralization/elimination of important leaders of terrorist groups or assault on the important base of the Al-sunnah wa Jamah (ASWJ).
Military support to Mozambique by other governments has seen important developments, with the withdrawal of equipment from the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) by sea from the port of Pemba, possibly signaling the end of South Africa’s aspirations to establish a bilateral mission in Cabo Delgado at least in the short term.
The central theme of the month is the dismissal of the Chief of the General Staff of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM), General Bertolino Capitine, and its repercussions in the fight against terrorism.
General Capitine is a man of the field and was once commander of the North Operational Theatre (TON) and enjoys great charisma within the FADM. He was dismissed by the FADM’s Commander-in-Chief, Filipe Nyusi, on October 4, after giving a public lecture at the Joaquim Chissano University Center for Strategic and International Studies, in which he harshly criticized the government’s response to terrorism in Cabo Delgado, particularly the "improvising and sidelining" of FADM in the government’s counter-terrorism strategy.
This first Monthly Briefing on the Terrorist Threat in Cabo Delgado - October 2024, is drawn up in the month that the terrorist attacks in Mozambique turned seven years old. The report is exclusively accessible to THE MOZAMBIQUE TIMES subscribers. If you are not a subscriber, you can request a copy by e-mail subscriptions@moztimes.com
Main incidents recorded
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