The Mozambican government forces announced this week the launching of an operation to destroy terrorist bases between the districts of Muidumbe and Macomia, targets of rebel incursions in recent days.
The operation, named “Volcano IV” and which is being carried out with the help of foreign forces supporting Mozambique in the fight against terrorism, aims to “intensify measures to pursue and destroy the enemy’s terrorist bases that are terrorising the north of the Messalo river, Muidumbe district, and the west of Chai, in Macomia district,” a statement from the Defence Ministry said.
According to the document, the new incursions are a continuation of operation “Volcano I”, carried out in July last year, and which culminated in the destruction of the Catupa base, described as the main refuge of the rebels inside Macomia district.
“It is noteworthy that the Vulcão IV operation, as well as the other operations to pursue the enemy, has caused a direct impact on the defence of Mozambique,” the Ministry of Defence stressed.
The incursions at recondite points on the banks of the Messalo river, between Muidumbe and Macomia, have gained strength in recent days and the local authorities believe that the perpetrators are rebel groups roaming around the region, fleeing military operations that have been unleashed by government forces, with support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Rwanda.
Cabo Delgado province has been the scene of an armed insurgency since 2017 with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
The conflict has made one million displaced people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and around four thousand deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.
