A senior Mozambican military officer on Monday, August 9, applauded troops operating under the joint Rwanda-Mozambique operation to liberate his country's northernmost Province of Cabo Delgado from the Islamic States-linked terrorists.

Maj Gen Christorão Artur Chume, a commander of the Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (FADM) in the joint operation noted this while addressing members of the media in the just captured strategic port city of Mocimboa da Praia.

He was accompanied by his counterpart, Major General Innocent Kabandana, the joint operations commander of the Rwandan troops in Mozambique.

Chume said: "Two days ago, Mocimboa da Praia was a stronghold of the terrorists but now it's liberated. We have been working together with the Rwandan troops for almost a month now and we see progress."

"Rwanda has brave soldiers, the same way Mozambique has brave soldiers. And our actions talk more than words."

Mocimboa da Praia, which was captured on Sunday, is a strategic port city that had been the headquarters of the Islamic States-linked terrorist group in Cabo Delgado Province since 2015.

Chume described securing Mocimboa da Praia as the first stage, the next stage being to move forward and secure all the other remaining pockets of the insurgents until the Province is fully under government control.

Chume said: "Mozambique and Rwanda, when united, we can do (even) better work."

Kabandana noted that his contingent was very well received "by our colleagues" in the military, the police and other institutions.

"Most important was the reception by the people. Wherever we passed, people cheered our convoys," he said.

On July 9, Rwanda, at the request of Mozambique, deployed 1,000 troops to Cabo Delgado to help fight the terrorists, stabilise the area and restore the authority of the state.

Rwandan troops were sent to work closely with Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (FADM) and forces from SADC, in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado.

The Mozambican General could not say whether the remaining terrorist pockets can be cleared in two or three weeks because, he explained, "military operations are very complex - we need a lot of intelligence."

Officials say that after the insurgents' main stronghold was captured, more than 90 percent of the region is now free save for very few "pockets" where operations to wipe out the terrorists are now focused.

Enemies of development

Asked to shed light on the terrorist's modus operandi, Chume said: "They are terrorists; they kill people, destroy infrastructure...they don't want people to live in peace.

"They are destroying what we have achieved. They are fighting against development."

In October 2017, armed extremists linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) launched an insurgency in Cabo Delgado.

They launched attacks, and in August 2020 seized Mocimboa da Praia. More than 50 people were beheaded by terrorists in the province in April 2020 and a similar number in November 2020. In September 2020, the ISIL insurgents captured Vamizi Island in the Indian Ocean.

On March 24, the militants seized Palma, murdering dozens of civilians displacing more than 35,000 of the town's 75,000 residents.

Kidnapped so many young children

So far, the insurgents have driven more than 820,000 people from their homes and killed more than 2,000 others, in the entire Province.

Moving through Palma districts earlier on Sunday, The New Times observed a few people in a village called Mute. During interviews with a few of them, on Monday, some more light was shed on the cruelty of the insurgents.

A man in his 50s broke down in tears when asked about his family. Many of them were dead and others missing.

A few meters away, 67-year-old Saidi Amri, seated on the floor in a group of five, told The New Times, in Kiswahili, that during their worst of times "they (terrorists) would suddenly turn up in a village, shouting all over and we would scamper for our dear lives."

"And then they start killing and eating our chicken before moving on. They mercilessly kill anyone they find on their way. We don't know why they are fighting. They have kidnapped so many young children of ages five or six, to about 14. I am 67 and if they found me, they will just kill me."

Amri's revelation implies that the terrorists could be forcefully recruiting young children.

"It is very difficult to understand who they are," Chume said, adding: "That's why our country went to look for help, not only for fighting but also for knowing who they are."

The Generals noted that while most of the terrorists may come from Mozambique, they have a number - especially leaders - from Tanzania, Burundi, the DR Congo and elsewhere in their ranks.

As noted, the terrorists' grand scheme or mission was to make Cabo Delgado the starting point or base for establishing an Islamic State in this part of Africa.

The terrorists were estimated to be nearly 3,000 before the joint operation was launched against them. The New Times has not been able to establish their current numbers.

Cabo Delgado Province has 16 districts but only four including Palma and Mocimboa da Praia were affected by the insurgents.

Asked about updates as regards the expected SADC forces deployment, Chume noted that only Rwanda and Mozambique were currently fighting the terrorists.

"SADC is not here (yet) in the area of operations. When they get here, we will operate with them. There is a place for everyone because we want to liberate Cabo Delgado."