A 1,000-strong Rwandan force has hit the ground running since its deployment in Mozambique to fight poor insurgents who have carried out devastating attacks in the far north of the country.
In two weeks, the troops – the first foreign force to be deployed against the insurgents – have taken a key road junction, held by the militants for the past year, and have reached the port town of Mocímboa da Praia.
In four years the insurgents have taken control of most of five districts in Cabo Delgado province in the north east of Mozambique.
So far 3,100 people have been killed and 820,000 displaced – more than the entire population of the five districts.
When in March the insurgents captured Palma, the gas boom town adjoining Total’s $20bn (£14bn) development of the second largest gas field in Africa, the French oil giant abandoned the massive construction site.
Mozambique’s defence forces are widely regarded as corrupt, poorly trained and ill-equipped and were no match for a growing but still rag-tag band of insurgents.
Despite opposition within his own party, President Filipe Nyusi called for foreign help.
There is broad agreement that the uprising was begun by young people without jobs protesting about growing poverty and inequality, as well as the lack of any gains from mineral resources including rubies and gas.
This is compounded by social injustice – the lack of a voice and abuse by government officials, police and soldiers.
The conflict started with a symbolic attack on Mocímboa da Praia in 2017 and escalated as the young people captured weapons from soldiers and gained local support.
Source: Angola Press News Agency