The President of the Republic (PR), Filipe Nyusi, said today that he had learned of the suicide of one of the terrorist leaders operating in Cabo Delgado province.

He explained that this suicide occurred because of his indecision as to whether or not to voluntarily hand himself in to the authorities and benefit from a "pardon", as has been the case with several Mozambicans who are members of the terrorist ranks.

"I know that there are many who want to come out [of the bush] to perform, but they are afraid. The Mozambican people have never been a hateful people. They can come back and they will be with us and we will build our country. I'm aware that they won't live completely in the forests away from their families. I learned that one of the leaders also ended up committing suicide in the bush because he didn't see the future or the end of the war and was afraid that he wouldn't be welcomed by his family," said Filipe Nyusi.

The PR was speaking today in the city of Maxixe, Inhambane province, at the central celebrations of Victory Day and the signing of the Lusaka Accords (Zambia), and the decoration of National Liberation Struggle fighters.

On the occasion, the PR acknowledged the initial difficulties of the National Defense Forces in combating terrorism, starting with the first attack in Mocímboa da Praia in October 2017, due to the "novelty" of the phenomenon which, according to him, has already killed more than two thousand Mozambicans.

"I would like to remind you that since October 2017, some districts of Cabo Delgado province have been victims of international terrorism that has claimed the lives of more than two thousand Mozambicans, destroyed the social fabric of the region, as well as economic and social infrastructure, both public and private," he said.

Nyusi praised the efforts of the Mozambican military who, with the help of the National Liberation fighters and friendly international troops, have made successive and continuous progress in the fight against terrorism.

"This was the case on August 8 and again on August 22, when our forces put one of the leaders who was directing the terrorists' operations in our country out of action. Some people don't believe it, but they have to, there's no way! There will be no more Bonomar Machude, also known as Ibin Omar, or Abu Suraka in the jungles, along with two other prominent operatives," he said.

But he noted that it is not yet time to say that the phenomenon is over in Cabo Delgado.

"The stubborn terrorists, in small groups, are in constant flight, agony and suffocation. We are not saying that terrorism is over and we won't dare to say that because that is an international evil. These terrorist casualties do not mean that terrorism is over," said Nyusi, stressing that the Mozambican front is aware that "winning a battle does not mean winning the war".

In this regard, the PR reiterated its call to report any suspicious movements taking place on national territory.