At least three members of the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) surrendered to authorities in Quinto Congresso village, a settlement belonging to the administrative post of Chai, in Macomia district. The militants defected citing dire living conditions in the camps and apparent disarray that has been caused by the CT operations in Cabo Delgado.
The militants further surrendered their weapons and upon interrogation revealed that a huge number of fighters is considering defection due to hunger and lack of survival conditions which are especially due to the lack of finances as well as the motivational factors that encouraged the fighters in the past.
The surrenders come at a time after the EU Training Mission (EUTM) which will train 11 companies (at least 1,100 troops) of Special Forces (commandos and marines) for two years was launched in Mozambique.
Intelligence in the past weeks has shown a weakened group that is still grasping to adapt to the new pressure from the foreign troops operating in the province. Previously, the militancy was reigning supreme as they had the upper hand by instilling fear on the citizens and the local military but with the introduction of the allied troops, the group has been driven deeper into hiding. More defections are expected as long-term CT operations and strategies are erected in Cabo Delgado and as the group continues to face challenges of better equipped and trained military personnel in the next couple of months.
