A measure allowing local militias to participate in the conflict against insurgents in the northern Cabo Delgado region has been adopted by Mozambique‘s parliament.
The army and its partners from Rwanda and the southern African regional grouping have been working with local militias to combat extremists in the area.
The bill was presented to the parliament by Defence Minister Cristovao Chume. Chume acknowledged that the Mozambican army was not sufficiently equipped to combat insurgency on its own.
In order to support the army “in resisting and controlling the growth of invasions,” he said it was vital to form local forces.
According to him, they would utilise similar tactics to those employed in other areas where national security was jeopardised to defend communal settlements as well as public and private assets. Former warriors who have volunteered to serve make up the local forces.
The insurgency in Cabo Delgado is an ongoing insurgency in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, mainly fought between militant and other insurgents attempting to establish an Islamic state in the region, and Mozambican security forces.
In 2020, the insurgency in northern Mozambique launched by members of an insurgents group affiliated with the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) became much more violent and ambitious. Several countries including Angola, Botswana, member states of the European Union, Rwanda, South Africa, the United States and others sent soldiers, equipment and military advisers to Mozambique in mid-2021 to help quell the insurgency.