Maputo, 10 Apr (AIM) – The Japanese Government has donated equipment worth about 22.5 million dollars to improve air traffic control systems in Mozambique.
The donated equipment will be allocated to the airports of Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Pemba and Mocímboa da Praia. The latter two are in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, which has been battling islamist terrorism since October 2017.
Mocimboa da Praia was seized by the jihadists in 2020, and was in their hands for about a year. Mozambican and Rwandan forces recaptured Mocimboa da Praia, including its airport, in 2021.
According to Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo, the ground and air communication radios and air navigation and surveillance systems, among others, will be installed at Maputo and Beira international airports.
She was speaking on Thursday in Maputo, moments after the signing of the Exchange of Notes between the Mozambican and Japanese Governments on the donation of the air traffic equipment.
Other Japanese equipment envisaged includes fire-fighting vehicles; generators and large capacity electric current stabilizers; airport meteorological stations; and air traffic control simulators.
“This donation joins the support of the government of Japan in the fight against terrorism, in which, among others, we highlight the donation of a Coastal Surveillance Ship, still under construction; supply of border control and monitoring equipment; and projects of economic and social assistance for the population affected by the insecurity in Cabo Delgado”, she said.
Alongside this donation, a training programme will also be implemented for operational personnel, namely air traffic controllers and maintenance staff.
(AIM)
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