Nyusi asks for continued Portuguese aid against terrorism

Maputo, 29 Jan (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Sunday asked his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, for continued Portuguese support in the fight against terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

According to a report on the Portuguese news agency, Lusa, Nyusi made his request in Lisbon where he spent a few hours en route to Italy, where he will participate in the Italy-Africa summit.

He told reporters that he had updated the Portuguese President on the current situation in Cabo Delgado. “Portugal is making its maximum contribution through the European Union”, he said.

Portugal has military instructors involved in training the Mozambican defence and security forces, “and we encourage them to continue in this spirit”, said Nyusi.

He urged Rebelo de Sousa to ensure that Portugal would continue this aid in the fight against the jihadist groups that have been operating in Cabo Delgado since 2017.

The Mozambican forces are receiving aid from Rwanda and from the members of the Southern African Development Community’s Military Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM). The European Union and the United States are providing non-lethal aid to Mozambique’s anti-terrorist efforts.

Nyusi said he and Rebelo de Sousa had also taken the opportunity to discuss the wars in Ukraine and in Palestine.
(AIM)
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