The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Mozambique said today that the Mozambican army has greater control of Cabo Delgado, reiterating that operations are continuing to pursue the rebels terrorizing that province in northern Mozambique.

"We have managed to develop operations and have greater control in the region, relentlessly pursuing the terrorists," said Joaquim Rivas Mangrasse, quoted by Lusa, in a briefing to the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, as part of a visit that the head of state began today to the province of Tete, central Mozambique.

According to the Chief of General Staff, the elimination of the leader of terrorism in the country, Mozambican Bonomade Machude Omar, was a "huge casualty" for the rebels who have been attacking Cabo Delgado province since 2017.

"We assure you that the Mozambican Armed Forces remain firm in their pursuit operations," said Joaquim Rivas Mangrasse, considering that the Mozambican army is increasingly "firm", although he admits to budgetary limitations.

"With very little, we've done a lot. With more support, we could do much more. But the results of a war are not just the success of a battle. You have to be aware of the latent dangers and take precautions for the future," concluded Joaquim Rivas Mangrasse.

The death of Bonomade Machude Omar, considered to be the leader of the radical Islamic State group in Mozambique, was announced on August 25 and was the result of an operation called "Golpe Duro II" by the Mozambican army.

The extremist leader was described by several experts as "a symbiosis between brutality and vigilante", and is on the US list of "global terrorists" and the target of European Union sanctions. (Lusa)