Maputo, 12 Dec (AIM) – The Mozambican government on Monday expressed its interest in renewing the European Union’s Military Training Mission (EUTM), intended to boost the capacity of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM).
The European support, via the EUTM, comes in the context of the fight against islamist terrorism in parts of the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
Mozambique’s interest in renewing the EUTM was transmitted during the 34th session of the “political dialogue” between the government and the EU, held in Maputo on Monday.
A joint communique issued at the end of the session said the two sides had reviewed developments since the previous session, held in the central city of Tete, in June 2023, notably the security situation in Cabo Delgado, and the progress made in the Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) of what are delicately referred to as the “residual forces” of what is now the main opposition party, Renamo.
The communique said the government and the EU “praised the positive developments on the ground (in Cabo Delgado), shown by the gradual return of the population to their homes and the resumption of economic and social activities”.
“The two delegations”, said the communique, “held a frank and open dialogue on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, according to a jointly agreed agenda”.
The two sides “reaffirmed the importance, depth and breadth of their partnership”, and discussed “questions of peace and security in the regional and global context, with a focus on the current conflicts in Africa, Europe and the Middle East”.
The government delegation shared with its European partners its priorities for its second month long presidency of the United Nations Security Council, and the prospects for the remainder of Mozambique’s term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
The session also looked at the Mozambican municipal elections, which the government described “in detail”. The EU delegation, said the communique, “noted some irregularities during the elections and called for commitment by the authorities and by Mozambican society in making the necessary legislative improvements”.
(AIM)
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