Mozambique has officially declared the end of its prolonged insurgency in the northern Cabo Delgado province following the capture of the last remaining rebel training camps, marking a significant milestone in the country’s fight against terrorism.
Mozambique’s Chief of Defense Intelligence, Ricardo Macuvele, confirmed the development on Thursday during an official visit to Lusaka, Zambia. He credited the successful operation to support from regional partners, particularly the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique, which has provided crucial military assistance in combating the insurgency.
Speaking during his meeting with Zambian Permanent Secretary for Defense Maambo Haamaundu, Macuvele expressed gratitude for Zambia’s contribution to the mission. “Zambia helped us a lot in containing the situation. The territory you assisted us in reclaiming from the terrorists remains under our control, and we have now also captured the last training camps used by the rebels,” he said, according to a statement released by Zambia’s Ministry of Defense.
The insurgency in Cabo Delgado, which began in 2017, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced over a million people. However, recent gains by Mozambican forces and their regional allies have turned the tide in favor of government control.
Zambia’s defense leadership reaffirmed their commitment to regional security, with Haamaundu emphasizing Zambia’s solidarity in the broader fight against terrorism and transnational crimes, including human trafficking.
The declaration marks a pivotal moment in the regional security landscape, as Mozambique begins the transition from active conflict to post-insurgency recovery and reconstruction.