The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has extended the mandate of a troop deployment in Mozambique to help the country fight an armed uprising, a communique from the summit showed.
“Summit noted the good progress made since the deployment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique and extended its mandate,” said SADC in a statement.
“The security situation in Cabo Delgado is improving, which has allowed for some internally displaced persons to return to their homes and resume their normal lives,” added the bloc.
The mission was initially deployed in July, but its mandate was extended indefinitely in October.
Cabo Delgado, a gas-rich province bordering Tanzania, has been hit by attacks since 2017.
At least 3,500 people have died and approximately 820,000 have fled their homes.
Atrocities have included massacres, beheadings, the torching of homes, and mass abductions – particularly of girls.
