Mozambique insurgents are using child soldiers: SANDF chief

Military raids on bases of insurgents in Mozambique and the recovery of laptops, cellphones and other electronic devices have yielded a wealth of information, including how rebel fighters are allegedly training kidnapped children as soldiers.

In a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, SA National Defence Force (SANDF) chief Gen Rudzani Maphwanya outlined the results of months of battles that SA soldiers was involved in in that country.

SANDF members form part of a larger Sadc Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) military force, which is fighting insurgents in the country’s northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Since 2017, Mozambique has waged a deadly war against insurgents who control vast areas of the gas-rich province.

SA, Botswana, Angola, Lesotho, Tanzania, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have all contributed troops and military equipment to SAMIM, which Maphwanya said was funded by Sadc states and the organisation’s peace fund.

He said between October 2021 and January, the 500 deployed SANDF members, together with other SAMIM forces, had launched numerous raids against insurgent bases, killing 31 “terrorists” and rescuing 16 women, 12 elderly people and eight children, all of whom had been kidnapped.

“SAMIN forces have also recovered an assortment of weapons including RPG7 grenade launchers, PKM machineguns, hand grenades and AK47 assault rifles. Electronic equipment was also recovered, providing useful information on the enemy.

“This information, which is contained on cellphones, laptops and memory sticks, conclusively shows how children are in the bases, where there are madrasas [Islamic religious schools]. The children are being used for fighting.”

Asked about links between the insurgency and Islamic State, he declined to name the group by name.

“There are, however, videos and other evidence which shows very clear relations between outside organisations, which are terror groups, and the insurgents. You can see the clear links. We have footage and we have the flags, which we have recovered. We have other evidence showing various links to these different groups.”

Maphwanya said SAMIM forces had been successfully operating alongside both Mozambican and Rwandan forces in the fight “against these terrorists”.

Rwanda and Mozambique have a bilateral joint security agreement in place, which has seen hundreds of Rwandese soldiers deployed to that country.

He said as well as the 500 troops on the ground in Mozambique, “1,495 are on standby ready for deployment at a moment’s notice”.

The deployed SANDF personnel include military intelligence operatives, special forces operators, pilots, specialised air medical evacuation teams and counter-improvised explosive device teams.

Asked about reports that the SANDF would deploy the air force’s Rooivalk attack helicopters, he said: “We are sending what is required for the fight.

“We have four air assets in the SAMIM mission. We are not the only ones who have air assets in the area, which may or may not include attack helicopters.”

He declined to say what aircraft were in the area “for operational reasons”.

Maphwanya said the navy had deployed the SAS Spioenkop frigate to patrol the Mozambican Channel to counter the insurgency’s maritime capabilities.

“This vessel, which took over from two of our navy’s offshore patrol vessels, is patrolling with vessels from the Tanzanian navy.”

The SANDF is helping hold the terrorists at bay. Our forces will continue to remain until terrorism is eradicated from the area and security restored. We have to ensure this problem does not affect the entire region and SA.

—  SANDF chief, Gen Rudzani Maphwanya

He said the SANDF forces in the area had been involved in intense fighting.

“That fighting occurred between October and January under Operation Buffalo. The operation saw our troops deployed deep into enemy territory where we took the fight to the terrorists.

“Our forces continue to inflict heavy losses upon these terrorists. Let’s make this clear. The war that is being waged, is one against terror.

“SAMIM is successfully continuing with its mandate to neutralise terrorism and the insurgents to create a safe environment, where children can go back to school and people can continue with their economic livelihoods.”

He said that the forces had recaptured numerous villages held by the insurgents, and allowed people who had been displaced to return to their homes.

“The SANDF is helping hold the terrorists at bay. Our forces will continue to remain until terrorism is eradicated from the area and security restored. We have to ensure this problem does not affect the entire region and SA.

“We would be foolish to think that SA cannot be affected by terrorism. Failure to stay with the task in Mozambique will result in SA having to deal with a terrorist spillover into this country, which will cause grave security issues. That is a very real risk.”

SANDF joint operations chief Lt-Gen Siphiwe Sangweni said the current phase of the mission, while still robust, was changing to one in which SAMIN forces were taking on a peacekeeping role.

On how close the insurgency is to being defeated, Sangweni said it was difficult to tell.

“While we believe we have severely weakened the insurgency’s strength through the killing of a number of their leaders, both during Operation Buffalo and before the start of the operation and by attacking them in their territories. The problem is these terrorists operate in small cells, often independently of each other, with their own leaders, with the support of people who have been radicalised.

“This is a very difficult fight. It will be won through hearts and minds operations, by bringing people back to their villages and getting them economically active and feeling safe.”

Responding to questions on the use of satellite technology and whether the SANDF was using SA National Space Agency satellites to track the insurgents, Sangweni said they were working with various forms of technology.

“This includes drones. Through technology and intelligence systems, and cellphone networks, we have been able to locate terror cells and take them on. We are not at the desired technology level that we need to be in this war, but we are getting results.”