14 rebels die as forces battle insurgents in Cabo Delgado, Rwanda says

Rwanda troops have killed 14 rebels in Cabo Delgado northern Mozambique, one Rwandan soldier was slightly injured when rebels attack their base.

RUSTENBURG, July 29 (ANA) – Rwandan forces have killed at least 14 insurgents in Mozambique, army spokesperson Colonel Ronald Rwivanga has said on Thursday.

Giving a summary of the Rwandan force deployed to Mozambiques’s northern province of Cabo Delgado during a press briefing, he said they conducted several operations in Awasse, Mocimbao and Muenda between July 24 and 28.

He said four insurgents were killed on July 24, and that they confiscated their weapons as well as battlefield medicine. Five were killed on July 26, he said.

He said a Rwandan soldier was slightly injured when their based was attacked on Wednesday.

“Yesterday, July 28th, the militants attacked our base in Awasse. Our forces swung in action, killing one assailant and forced others into retreat.While returning to the base in Awasse our forces fell into the enemy’s ambush but defeated them and killed two assailants.”

He said so far, Rwandan forces had no major causalities, except a soldier who was slightly injured during the operation. He is recovering in hospital.

Rwanda deployed a joint force of 1,000 soldiers and police officers to Mozambique to quell the insurgents’ attack in Cabo Delgado.

“The Rwandan contingent will support efforts to restore Mozambican state authority by conducting combats and security operations, as well as stabilisation and security-sector reform,” the Rwandan government said when it sent its troops to Mozambique.

The deployment of Rwandan forces is an agreement between Mozambique and Rwanda. It does not fall under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreement.

Mozambique also has a separate agreement with the European Union (EU) to train and support the Mozambican armed forces to protect the civilian population and restore safety and security in the Cabo Delgado province.

The EU mission will provide military training including operational preparation, specialised training on counter-terrorism, and training and education on the protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law.

SADC resolved in June to deploy troops to Mozambique in a push to repel terrorism and acts of violent extremism in Cabo Delgado.

This was after Islamic state-backed terrorists launched an attack on the town of Palma in the northern province of Cabo Delgado on March 24, killing at least 12 people, including a South African and a Zimbabwean.

More than 100,000 people have fled the area for safety.

South Africa and Botswana have already sent their soldiers to Mozambique.

Zimbabwe is expected to deploy more than 300 soldiers to Mozambique, state controlled newspaper The Herald has reported on Thursday.

Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri told reporters in Harare that the soldiers would consist of trainers and one specialist officer.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay