Despite sporadic attacks by insurgents linked to the Islamic State, known as the Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) in the oil and gas rich Cabo Delgado province, the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) claim to have the situation under control.
According to Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, Rwandan military spokesman, one of the RDF’s achievements was pushing the insurgents to retreat into thick forests.
From there they “now look for soft targets, going into villages to steal food”, he said.
The insurgents’ most prominent attack so far this year came in late April, at Niassa Reserve, leaving 10 people dead, including two rangers.
The RDF have also had casualties in May while pursuing insurgents into forested areas.
“We managed to contain them but lost four soldiers a couple of weeks ago in Katumba Forest. We landed in an ambush,” added Rwivanga.
Jungle warfare is challenging, so at times the Rwandans use drones to track insurgents, but still, because of the thick terrain, visibility is a challenge.
Moving into forests for safety disadvantaged the insurgents because the RDF claims to have cut their access to the Indian Ocean, a critical route for linking up with the greater ISIS networks operating across Africa.
“All the coastal areas have been cleared. We have denied them access to food and communication,” Rwivanga said.
The Rwanda Defence Force was initially deployed in the northern parts of Cabo Delgado in July 2021 while the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) was in the south.
The RDF initially covered Palma and Mocímboa da Praia districts, where liquified national gas (LNG) projects are located. Since SAMIM’s departure, the RDF deployed to areas southwards in the province. Rwivanga said they now had 5 000 personnel on the ground.
But Rwanda doesn’t intend to stay on forever. Pn 24 May, 525 Mozambique Armed Forces (FADM) troops graduated from a six-month advanced infantry course conducted by RDF instructors.
During the passing out ceremony, Mozambican president Daniel Chapo revealed that the last such exercise for the FADM was carried out in 2011 by the United States Army.
Part of the reason why FADM has failed to contain ISIS alone was lack of skill and discipline.
The RDF said they had the right type of knowledge to deal with insurgents. Between 1996 and 1998 remnants of Hutu extremists from the 1994 genocide operating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) tried to distabilise the Rwandan government.
“For two years, from 1996, there was an insurgency back in Rwanda. So, we know how to fight these kinds of battles. We don’t plan to stay in Mozambique forever; that’s why we train them,” said Rwivanga of the FADM.
The insurgency is far from being over. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are 25 000 newly displaced people with an urgent need for food, shelter, healthcare and protection.
The agency said only 32% of its needs are funded, and more lives are at risk.
