Local militias have been assisting the army and its allies from Rwanda and the southern African regional bloc in the fight against jihadists in the province.

Defence Minister Cristovao Chume, who presented the bill in parliament, admitted that the Mozambican army was not strong enough to tackle jihadist activities alone.

He said there was an urgent need to establish local forces to strengthen the army “in combating and containing the spread of jihadist incursions”.

He said they would protect community settlements and public and private infrastructure, similar to strategies used in other jurisdictions where national security was compromised.

The local forces are made up of volunteer former combatants.