SANDF deployed to Mozambique to repatriate South Africans

Dennis TApril 3, 2021

64 1 minute read

South Africa has deployed soldiers in Mozambique in a mission to rescue South Africans. This comes after the AU also called for action against the violence in Palma, following the attacks by insurgents.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said yesterday troops were sent to the Cabo Delgado region, Mozambique, in a mission to rescue the country’s citizens amid violent attacks launched by the Islamic State. Ramaphosa said the SANDF and other stakeholders are attending the matter on an ongoing basis.

“We are briefed and we have already attended to the issue to evacuate those citizens who are stranded in Mozambique. Already the South African citizen who died and others had been brought by the SANDF. We remain involved with securing the safety of our people in Palma. SANDF is working very hard to bringing South African citizens back home,” said Ramaphosa.

Adrian Nel was killed in the unrest in the coastal town of Palma last week. His body, his father and brother and others were repatriated back to South Africa this week.

It is still unclear how many more South Africans are trapped in Mozambique. The AU condemned the attacks on Palma.

In a statement, AU chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he condemns in the strongest term the terrorist attacks and expressed concern at the presence of international extremist groups in Southern Africa, calling for urgent co-ordinated regional and international action.

“The AU Commission through its relevant organs, stands ready to support the region and its mechanisms to jointly address this urgent threat to regional and continental peace and security,” said Mahamat. The Southern African Development Community held emergency talks in Zimbabwean capital Harare, to discuss the violence.