Following a decrease in piracy in Pemba, Mozambique, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) joint operations task force has decided to withdraw its operations in that region, according to media reports.
The Pemba operation forms part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) anti-piracy initiative, Operation Copper, which was first deployed in Mozambique in early 2011, following the hijacking of a Mozambican fishing vessel by Somali pirates.
At the time Lindiwe Sisulu, then defence and military veterans minister, announced that South African warships would be deployed to northern Mozambique, along with a C-47TP maritime patrol aircraft from 35 Squadron.
The news site that declares itself the “unofficial website on the South African Airforce”, SA Airforce, quoted joint operations spokesman, captain Jaco Theunissen, as saying that as from last week, Operation Copper operations would no longer be conducted in Pemba. This would include the withdrawal of 35 Squadron, he reportedly said.
Maritime operations will still be conducted as far afield as northern Mozambique, but will continue from an SA Navy platform, said Theunissen.
SANDF withdraws operations from Moz anti-piracy initiative
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