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Mozambique president axes security chiefs after attack

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AFP Maputo
President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique has sacked three top security chiefs two weeks after an attack on police stations initially blamed on jihadists that left two officers and 14 attackers dead.

The president's office announced in a statement yesterday that the head of the country's spy agency, police force and army would be removed immediately. Their replacements have yet to be named and no reason for the dismissals was given.

Police initially claimed that the perpetrators of the attacks on police stations in the country's north earlier this month were linked to homegrown "Islamic extremist sects".

They later retracted the statement saying they were unconnected to any organised group.
 

The attacks occurred on October 5 and 6 in the typically quiet town of Mocimboa de Praia near the border with Tanzania.

Fourteen of the assailants, two police officers and a civilian were slain in the attacks that detectives described as coordinated but with an unknown motive. Fifty people have been detained in connection with the bloodshed.

"This is a wake-up call for Mozambique and unless inequality and youth unemployment and education is improved, we may see more of this," said Alex Vines from the London- based Chatham House think-tank following the attacks.

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First Published: Oct 25 2017 | 6:02 PM IST

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