Mozambique’s parliamentary Defence and Security Committee has declared all military operations conducted in the Northern Operational Theatre legal, asserting that ongoing actions are indispensable to safeguarding national sovereignty and restoring stability in Cabo Delgado.
The committee’s position was expressed during a working visit to the province, undertaken as part of its oversight mandate to monitor the progress of the campaign against armed groups operating in the region, according to a report by newspaper O País.
Committee chairman Pedro Comissário stated that operations carried out by the Defence and Security Forces are being conducted within the bounds of the law and are a necessary response to the need to protect the state and the populations affected by the insurgency.
“These operations are necessary to protect the state and the populations affected,” Pedro Comissário said, arguing that current military actions are contributing to the restoration of stability in Cabo Delgado province.
The lawmaker also dismissed criticism raised by certain sectors of civil society regarding the methods employed in counter-terrorism operations, contending that the measures adopted by the government are essential to addressing the threat.
In Pedro Comissário’s view, the actions undertaken by the authorities fall within broader efforts to guarantee security, preserve national sovereignty, and respond to the challenges posed by armed groups active in the region.
During the mission, the Defence and Security Committee is expected to obtain a full picture of the security situation in the Northern Operational Theatre, assess progress made by forces on the ground, and gather information on the challenges that persist in the counter-terrorism campaign.
The parliamentary visit is being conducted within the scope of the National Assembly’s oversight responsibilities over the conduct of state institutions in preserving national security and territorial integrity.
Since October 2017, Cabo Delgado — a province rich in natural resources, particularly natural gas — has been gripped by an armed insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and triggered a humanitarian crisis that has displaced more than one million people.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/07/desenvolvimento-2/cabo-delgado-comissao-parlamentar-considera-legais-operacoes-de-combate-ao-terrorismo/
