By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A member of the SANDF deployed in Mozambique’s volatile Cabo Delgado Province has been killed by insurgents.
The soldier was part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) under Operation Vikela.
SANDF spokesperson Brigadier-General Andries Mahapa said the SADC soldiers came under attack from the insurgents during an ambush around an area east of Chai village on Monday.
“The members managed to fight through the ambush, but while at the rendezvous awaiting the chopper they got attacked by the insurgents again. During this incident, an SANDF member was shot and declared dead on the scene,” said Mahapa.
The body of the SANDF member was flown back to the SAMIM Chai tactical base.
Mahapa said further investigation was being conducted to determine the extent of injuries to personnel and the loss of equipment during the incident.
“The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thabang Makwetla, the Secretary for Defence, Ambassador Sonto Kudjoe, and the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, extend their heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the deceased,”said Mahapa. “May the departed soul rest in peace.”
Earlier this year, Mozambique lodged an official request for military intervention from neighbouring countries to help quell a jihadist insurgency in the mineral-rich country.
Following this, Southern African countries agreed to deploy forces to Mozambique, where the government sent a signed “status of forces” agreement to the Southern African Development Community’s secretariat in Botswana.
Several southern African countries have deployed hundreds of soldiers to Mozambique. There are about 1 500 SA troops on the ground, while Rwanda, which is not part of the Southern African Development Community, deployed around 1 000 soldiers.