It has been two weeks since the rebels were quelled from major strongholds in Mocímboa da Praia following intense fighting.

IGIHE has learnt that Rwandan and Mozambican troops have started offensive operations to rebels’ hideouts.

Mbau is said to be among remaining hideouts equivalent to 10 percent of zones previously held by rebels.

According to sources, the joint forces maneuvered through Mocímboa da Praia and Mueda to attack rebels in Mbau.

It is also reported that the operation conducted on Wednesday was preceded by air strikes to disperse the enemy before land attacks. ]

Apart from Mbau, other regions still under the control of rebels include Siri I and Siri II.

During the ongoing fight, liberated regions are left under protection of Police forces as soldiers advance to chase out rebels.

Rwanda started the deployment of 1000 troops of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) to Mozambique, recently on 9th July 2021, to fight rebel groups linked ISIL.

The group sometimes calls themselves al-Shabaab, although they do not have known links with the Somali al-Shabaab.

The situation started worsening in October 2017 when armed extremists linked ISIL launched an insurgency in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique.

Since then, Mozambique Defence Armed Forces have been battling the extremists while many civilians were displaced by the fighting.

The joint operations between Rwandan and Mozambican troops have started yielding where different regions including Palma, Awasse, Mocímboa Da Praia, Quionga, Tete, Zambia, Maputo, Nhica Do Rovuma, Quelimane, Chinda and Mumu have been seized from rebels.

Rwandan and Mozambican troops deployed to fight insurgency have attacked rebels linked the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant who fled to Mbau forests.