Maputo, 20 Feb (AIM) – The Portuguese government has expressed its optimism about the boosting of European Union (EU) support granted to Mozambique in the fight against terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
The European Union Military Mission in Mozambique (EUTM) was created in October 2021 by the European Council with a two-year mandate. The mission, which provides non-lethal support, trains the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado.
The willingness to step up this support was expressed on Monday in Maputo by the Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Francisco André, minutes after the end of an audience granted to him by the Mozambican Deputy Foreign Minister, Manuel Gonçalves.
“Obviously, there is no doubt Portugal will continue to work with Mozambique on this issue. We are coordinating our positions in conjunction with those who are our partners, Mozambique’s European partners”, André said.
According to the Secretary of State, there will be a very important visit next week “and I think we have all the conditions to maintain the European mission.
“The contacts between Mozambique and the European Union continue and, as part of these contacts, there are frequent trips by those responsible. So Portugal and Mozambique are both continuing to work together and we are optimistic that the mission will continue and that its capacity will be strengthened”, he added.
In December, the Portuguese Defense Minister, Helena Carreiras, during her working visit to Mozambique, guaranteed that the EU will understand the need to capitalize on the effort made during the training of 11 companies of the Mozambican army.
Since July 2021, the Rwandan Defense Forces and the Southern African Development Community Military Mission (SAMIM) have been working with the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces in the fight against terrorism.
Cabo Delgado is rich in natural gas, but has been plagued by terrorist attacks since 2017 perpetrated by armed groups causing the death of over 3,000 people, most of them civilians.
In its last report on Mozambique, the United Nations Refugee Agency says that nearly 1 million people have fled their homes over the last five years in Cabo Delgado as a result of violence.
(AIM)
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