The Southern African Development Community (SADC) force that is in Cabo Delgado assisting the Mozambique Defense and Security Forces (MSDF) in the fight against insurgents has announced the opening of roads, notably between Pemba, the provincial capital, and Macomia, a commercial hub in the center of the province.

The Mission of the Southern African Development Community in Mozambique (SAMIM) added that roads have also been opened between Mueda and the towns of Awasse and Nangade, thus re-establishing "public confidence" in the population.

"SAMIM has brought calm and stability to the areas of Mueda, Macomia and Nangade, leading to the return of residents," says a note released on Wednesday, 15,

SAMIM began its operations on the ground on August 9 and has been announcing advances on the ground, where a contingent of 1,000 Rwandan troops had been since June.

Mozambique has been in the grip of an ostensibly Islamist insurgency since October 2017, which has left some 3,000 dead and more than 850,000 refugees.