The government confirmed the retaking of the town of Mocímboa da Praia, in Cabo Delgado province, which had been in the hands of insurgents for more than two years, after the spokesman for the Rwandan contingent on the ground announced the achievement on a social network.

According to VOA, the announcement and confirmation was made on Sunday, 8, a day before the Presidents of Mozambique and Botswana officially announced the start of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force mission.

On Sunday afternoon, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said at a press conference in Maputo that "the joint forces of Mozambique and Rwanda have controlled the town of Mocímboa da Praia, since 11:00 on August 8, 2021″ and that, at this moment, operations continue "with the aim of consolidating control over the areas that prevail critical, namely, some peripheral neighborhoods and the area where the water treatment plant is located."

Omar Saranga added that control of public and private infrastructure has been regained, including the district government headquarters, the port, airport, hospital, markets and catering establishments.

Earlier, the spokesman for the Rwandan contingent, which has been in Cabo Delgado since last month helping Mozambique's Defense and Security Forces fight the insurgents, Ronald Rwivanga, said in a tweet that "the port city of Mocímboa da Praia, a major stronghold of the insurgency for more than two years, has been captured by Rwandan and Mozambican security forces."

Meanwhile, this Monday, Filipe Nyusi and his Botswana counterpart, Mokgoetse Masisi, officially launch the SADC Standby Force mission.

"The act will constitute the highest point in the materialization of the decisions of the Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community held in Maputo on June 23, 2021, and marks the full readiness for deployment in the Northern Operational Theater to support the Republic of Mozambique in combating terrorism and violent extremism that plague some districts of Cabo Delgado province, impacting the country and the region," reads the note from the Presidency.

The force is made up of troops from South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Lesotho, and Tanzania, in the specialties of land, naval, air, intelligence, and logistics forces, among others.