The mission will see a continued presence of military personnel there for the next few months, with the long-term plan being to de-escalate the violence and help to bring stability to the region.

At a troika meeting in Pretoria on Sunday, South Africa’s International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor told her counterparts that the Sadc mission had made good progress in repelling attacks over the past year.

She added that one of the aims of the Sadc presence would be ensure the reconstruction of Cabo Delgado, a region rich in gas.

The meeting also heard that the EU has committed to funding the mission, and would offer humanitarian as well as military assistance.