The President of the Republic of Mozambique announced Wednesday that the Southern African Development Community Military Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) will continue to fight terrorism in the province of Cabo Delgado for another three months. The operation is budgeted at $29.5 million, an amount already approved by regional leaders.

"Terrorism does not end in a month or a year. Naturally, activities against terrorism will have to follow," said Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, speaking in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, on the sidelines of the closing of the extraordinary summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Still according to Nyusi, the regional leaders have assured that they will make the necessary funds available for the activities before the deadlines.

The President also said that SADC remains committed to supporting the fight against terrorism anywhere in the country.

In Niassa, the border province of Cabo Delgado, there have been terrorist attacks in some remote areas in December 2021 and this year, which have already led to the displacement of about three thousand people.

"If terrorism pulls to the right or to the left, we will meet the terrorist," Nyusi declared, stressing that rebels who "move into areas that they think are favorable to them will get the response they deserve."

Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas, but terrorized since 2017 by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State and ISIS Mozambique.