CABO DELGADO – In northern Mozambique, hundreds of internally displaced people fleeing jihadist attacks that began in 2017 have started returning home after military operations involving Sadc and Rwandan forces.
In recent weeks, towns and villages in Cabo Delgado province that had been overrun by Islamist militants have been retaken.
In Rwanda, local media showed pictures of the military helping displaced people return home from refugee camps in buses and trucks.
Elsewhere, it was reported that the coalition had broken out and cornered most of the jihadists.
However, Mozambican authorities have warned that some areas still cannot be repopulated as jihadists have destroyed basic infrastructure.
Nearly three-quarters of a million people have had to leave their homes because of the violence.
The forces surround the militants in the areas of Siri I and Siri II.
The military push comes just four days after combined forces captured Mbau – another key insurgent stronghold – after a bitter struggle.
Military sources reported that more than 100 people were released from jihadist captivity and dozens of militants were killed.
On August 8, the combined forces drove the insurgents from Mocimboa da Praia, a port town that had been the militants’ headquarters for more than three years.
After fleeing the town, the insurgents moved further south into the dense forests of Mbau.
Siri I and Siri II are the only major insurgent hideouts in Mocimboa da Praia.
