Mozambique army chief succumbs to coronavirus

Mozambique's army chief has died of coronavirus at the country's biggest health facility, the Maputo Central Hospital.

Eugénio Ussene Mussa, died on Monday barely a month after he was appointed to the role. He was sworn in as chief of the general staff on 20 January.

Before taking the topmost military job, he was deployed to the Northern Theater of Operations where government forces are combating militants in the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado.

Local media reports that Mussa had told his charges last month that 2021 would be a decisive year in combating terrorism.

The UN Secretary General's personal envoy to Mozambique, Mirko Manzoni, has sent a message of condolences to President Filipe Nyusi and to the Mozambican people.

Newly-appointed Mozambican army chief Eugénio Ussene Mussa, critical to the fight against Islamic militants in Cabo Delgado, has died. President Filipe Nyusi appointed Mussa to spearhead the campaign against jihadists.

Sadc states, including Zimbabwe, are poised to intervene. pic.twitter.com/51Wy9A5EzP

— TheNewsHawks (@NewsHawksLive) February 8, 2021