Maputo,Sept 25, 2025 (Lusa) - Mozambique's President Daniel Chapo said on Thursday that security in Cabo Delgado has improved, but that the terrorist threat remains, asking the Armed Defence Forces of Mozambique (FADM) for "strategies to incinerate" these insurgent groups.
"Reality tells us that this effort has not been enough. That's why, as we celebrate the 61st anniversary of the FADM, we want to direct the three pillars of the Defence and Security Forces to find strategies to eradicate terrorism in our country," said Daniel Chapo.
Speaking at the FADM's anniversary celebrations in Matola, Maputo province, southern Mozambique, a date that also marks the beginning of the country's armed struggle against the colonial regime, on 25 September 1964, the Mozambican President acknowledged the "complexity" of the mission, in a fight against terrorism that has been going on since 2017, but underlined the level of preparation achieved in recent years by the Armed Forces.
"We know that over the years they have acquired experience, created structures and trained many cadres in the academies, capable of facing these challenges with mastery. We therefore recommend sending the best personnel to the Northern Operational Theatre. Terrorism can't be defeated by leaving the best military personnel, the best cadres, the relatives or children of the leaders in the offices," Chapo pointed out.
"Every citizen who is part of the Defence and Security Forces must go to the Northern Operational Theatre. This is non-negotiable," he warned.
In Cabo Delgado, a province rich in gas, Daniel Chapo recognises that the "threat" is "highly complex" and "requires constant tactical, operational and strategic innovation, international cooperation and the improvement" of capabilities.
"Our troops have stood out for their courage, discipline and resilience, recovering territories that were once occupied, allowing people to return safely to their areas of origin and restoring the authority of the state in the affected regions," insisted the head of state.
He stressed that Mozambicans want the country "in peace and free from terrorism" and that in this sense the FADM "has been called upon to reinvent itself in order to respond to the people's clamour".
"There is no doubt that today security in Cabo Delgado has improved, compared to three or four years ago, because there are basic conditions for the movement of people and goods in relative safety, despite sporadic attacks by terrorists," he said.
He added that with this "operational pressure" from the FADM, "the terrorists have been changing their “modus operandi”", starting "to carry out actions that include implanting improvised explosive devices on some roads to contain the operational advance".
There have also been attempts "to restrict the circulation of vehicles on some roads under threat of attacks and looting, to carry out raids to loot food products from the population, to reinforce their logistics and to kidnap citizens, mostly fishermen, confiscate their property and collect money for their release".
"These challenges mean that the FADM needs to invest in strengthening its operational capacity in order to persuade, dissuade and stop any kind of threat in Cabo Delgado," said Daniel Chapo.
Cabo Delgado province has seen an upsurge in attacks by rebel groups since July, with the districts of Chiúre, Muidumbe, Quissanga, Ancuabe, Meluco and most recently Mocímboa da Praia being targeted, with several deaths reported.
In 2024 alone, at least 349 people died in attacks in northern Mozambique, most of them claimed by the extremist group Islamic State, an increase of 36% on the previous year, according to a study released by the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS), an academic institution of the US government's Department of Defence.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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