Rwandan security forces involved in counter-terrorism operations in Mozambique's far northern province of Cabo Delgado discovered last Friday (21) yet another cache of weapons abandoned by Islamic State-linked terrorists.

The weapons were hidden in the terrorists' former bases in Miloli, in the Limala forest area, southeast of the Mocímboa da Praia district. The areas where these weapons were discovered were terrorist strongholds before they were dislodged by Mozambican and Rwandan forces in August 2021.

A statement from the Rwandan Ministry of Defense indicates that the terrorists tried "several times to return to retrieve the weapons without success."

The first stockpile of weapons and ammunition hidden by the terrorists was discovered on October 15, in the dense forest region called Mbau, southeast of the Mocímboa da Praia district, by Rwandan security forces.

The operations in which the hideouts were deactivated constitute a pre-emptive move to prevent terrorists from returning and rearming for new terrorist actions.

The terrorists have been totally defeated in the districts of Palma and Mocímboa da Praia, the two districts under the responsibility of the Rwandan security forces, but they are lurking in the neighboring districts.

Rwandan and Mozambican security forces in these two districts are on alert to ensure that terrorists do not disturb the peace again. In the districts of Palma and Mocímboa da Praia, where Rwandan security forces operate, more than 130,000 IDPs have returned to their villages.

Currently, the Rwandan security forces in Cabo Delgado are carrying out the fourth phase - stabilization - in which, together with the state forces, they help people return to their villages and ensure access, among others, to health care.

The first and second phases of the Rwandan security forces' operation consisted of planning and moving troops, respectively.

During the decisive third phase, Rwandan and Mozambican forces quickly defeated and dislodged the terrorists from their strongholds in the districts of Palma and Mocímboa da Praia.

On July 9, 2021, at Maputo's request, Kigali moved troops into Cabo Delgado Province to help fight the terrorists, stabilize the area, and restore state authority(Letter)