The Tanzanian government is set to extradite no fewer than 516 suspected terrorists detained in its prisons back to Mozambique.
The suspects are believed to have been involved in terrorist activities in Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The suspected terrorists entered Tanzania in hope of fleeing offensives by Mozambique’s Defence and Security Forces but ended up being detained by Tanzanian authorities.
Police authorities of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding last weekend in Tanzania on the repatriation of the detainees, including suspected terrorists and related collaborators.
“The document sets out, as a key objective, to bring all detained indicted in the country, to the court of justice,” said Bernardino Rafael, General Commander of the Police of Republic of Mozambique.
Rafael said the detainees include Mozambicans, Tanzanians, Somalis, Ugandans, Congolese, Rwandans and Burundians.
He expressed appreciation to Tanzania for “all the information and collaboration… made available to us.”