President Paul Kagame has applauded the work done by Rwandan and Mozambican troops in liberating Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado. The Head of State was addressing Rwandan forces deployed to Mozambique, where he arrived Friday morning for a two-day working visit. Some 1,000 members of the Rwanda Defence Force and Rwanda National Police are in the Southern African country, where they are working with the Mozambican security forces in operations against a terrorist group that had taken large swathes of Cabo Delgado over the last few years. The troops have already liberated several key towns from the militants “The work done hasn’t been easy. I bring greetings from your fellow brothers and sisters back home,” Kagame, clad in military uniform along with his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Nyusi, told Rwandan troops and police officers. “President Nyusi has informed me that Mozambicans are greatly appreciative that they have now been able to go back to their normal daily lives,” he said. “However, the work done so far cannot stop here. President Kagame told the Rwandan contigent, “We now have another task which is to continue rebuilding and protecting this country. The President and people of Mozambique are at the forefront of this and will inform us how long our mandate here should be.” “You sacrificed and endured days and nights in the scorching sun, heavy rains.” Kagame also fired a warning to the terrorist group. “The terrorists better know that we won’t sit back and let them return and threaten the lives of the people in Cabo Delgado.” “They are real heroes” President Nyusi expressed his gratitude to the Rwandan soldiers for helping restore peace in the region. “They are real heroes. Our citizens are forever grateful for the kind of service these soldiers have shown and for liberating them from rebels who had taken over Cabo Delgado.” He observed that “the Rwandan soldiers have shown immense respect to our citizens. They are loved and respected.” “Our soldiers are forever indebted to you and we look forward to continuing rebuilding the lives of our citizens for the better,” he said. The two leaders are set to hold tête-a-tête talks, while a scheduled bilateral meeting between both countries is to culminate into several cooperation agreements. The presidents were also set to address a joint news conference. Kagame is also expected to join his counterpart Nyusi at a major military ceremony, dubbed the Armed Forces Day, due at Pemba Municipal Stadium on Saturday.
