US Special Operations Forces will train Mozambican marines for two months to fight against the jihadist insurgency in the northeastern Cabo Delgado province.
Armed groups, known locally as al-Shabab (“young people” in Arabic), have been sowing terror for more than three years in the strategic province of Cabo Delgado, which borders Tanzania and is an area that is rich in natural gas.
The conflict reached a symbolic turning point at the end of December with attacks carried out for the first time just a few kilometers from a multibillion-euro gas project operated by the French oil and gas company Total.
Attacks have reduced considerably in the last few months, which is attributed to increased military response.
But the NGO Amnesty International on March 2 accused the Mozambican forces and mercenaries of “war crimes” for indiscriminately killing civilians during their struggle against the jihadist group in Cabo Delgado.
More than 670,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.
