Mozambique retakes key port city from insurgents

Mozambican forces backed by Rwandan troops on Sunday said they had driven out Islamic State-linked extremists occupying the key port city of Mocimboa da Praia in the gas-rich north of the country.

Mozambique's Defence Ministry confirmed an earlier tweet by Rwanda's army that the joint force had wrested control of the city on Sunday morning.

They now control government buildings, the port, airport, hospital, and other key installations, Colonel Omar Saranga, a ministry spokesman, told a news conference in the Mozambican capital Maputo.

He added that the victory was enormous for his country and the operations continued to consolidate control over critical areas, including an area where a water treatment facility is situated.

"It is an important victory because this is a very important strategic port for Mozambique. And it has also been a very important entry or supply point for the insurgents. This will be no more," Saranga said.

Mozambican forces have been struggling to regain control over the northern Cabo Delgado Province, site of one of Africa's biggest liquefied natural gas projects－a $20 billion joint venture operated by French energy major Total.

Rwanda sent 1,000 troops last month to shore up the Mozambican military. Last week they claimed their first success, saying they had helped the Mozambican army regain control of Awasse, a small but also strategic settlement near Mocimboa da Praia.

The port city, from where the first extremist attacks were staged in October 2017, has since last year become the de facto headquarters of the IS-linked militants.

At least 800,000 people have been uprooted from their homes by the violence ravaging the region, with more than 3,100 killed－half of them civilians, according to a conflict tracking organization.

Logistics hub

With a big airport that has a 2-kilometer runway, the recaptured city was the insurgents' stronghold in the province. The city was a key connection to the outside world and a major logistics hub. By recapturing it, the government can deny the terrorists access to the sea, the airport and support from outside.

"We have so many other inland districts and towns that Mocimboa da Praia facilitated the entry of goods to. The capture of this city is very important for the entire Mozambique and the rest of the South African Development Community (SADC) countries, for regional trade," Saranga said.

On Aug 5, SADC forces arrived in Mozambique as part of a combined force to quell the insurgents. South Africa sent nearly 1,500 troops, Zimbabwe dispatched a team of 304 noncombat soldiers while Botswana deployed 296 troops.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.