South African troops shoot civilian in Cabo Delgado
Members of the South African defence force, integrated into the SADC (Southern African Development Community) military mission that is supporting the fight against terrorism in the northern Mozambican northern province of Cabo Delgado, have been accused of shooting a civilian.
According to the independent newssheet “Carta de Moçambique”, the incident occurred last Saturday in the village of Ingoane, in the Mucojo administrative post, in Macomia district.
The circumstances and motivations that led the South Africans to shoot the man are not known.
The South African soldiers abandoned the victim after shooting him. When he was located by other Mozambicans, he was transported by boat to Pangane village, and from there he was accompanied to Macomia town for medical assistance.
“The victim was hit in both legs (between the hips and knees)”, witnesses said.
Cabo Delgado has been plagued by terrorism since October 2017 and, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the conflict has left one million people displaced and about 4,000 dead.
Since July 2021, the Mozambican defence and security forces, with support from Rwanda and the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), have been liberating districts near natural gas projects, which had previously been occupied by the terrorists.
(AIM)
