Mozambican and Rwandan forces capture insurgent base .

By Jorge Joaquim

Mozambican and Rwandan forces have captured a base used by the terrorist insurgents operating in Cabo Delgado province. The capture of the so-called Chinga base in Muidumbe district was announced by the deputy chief of the Mozambican armed forces, Bertolino Capitine.

So far, no details have been given about the operation or whether either side suffered casualties. The Chinga base is located 6km away from Namacunde, the capital of Muidumbe district, one of the parts of Cabo Delgado most affected by terrorist raids.

Three weeks ago, the joint Mozambican and Rwandan force recovered the town of Mocímboa da Praia, one of the insurgents’ strongholds.

Hundreds of people have been allowed to return home to the town of Palma after the terrorists previously occupying the town were driven out. During the weekend, Palma residents who had been moved to the village of Quitunda were taken back to Palma with the help of troops.

Services like water supply and medical assistance are yet to resume fully, but local street businesses are said to be operating. While life is slowly being restored in Palma and the town of Macomia, access to the town of Mocímboa da Praia still remains restricted by the Mozambican armed forces.

Work on French energy company TotalEnergies’ multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas project in Palma should resume within the next 18 months, according to the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

TotalEnergies declared force majeure on the project [meaning that it was unable to deliver on its contractual commitments] in April, after terrorists attacked the nearby town of Palma.

Since then, troops from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community have been helping to fight the insurgents. Akinwumi Adesina told Reuters that he did not expect the interruption to affect the project’s long-term viability.

“The return of security in that place will give assurances to Total and others to return,” he said. “In one year to 18 months, I expect it to be stabilised enough to get back on track.”

The AfDB is lending $400m to the project. TotalEnergies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.