União Europeia
Maputo, 5 Nov (AIM) – The European Union has denied providing any support for the alleged presence of Rwandan troops in Maputo, and warns against “the spread of misinformation”.
This warning is clearly aimed at the independent presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane, who has twice claimed that Rwandan forces have been moved from the northern province of Cabo Delgado to Maputo to crush opposition demonstrations. On both occasions, Mondlane claimed that the Rwandans are being financed by the EU.
A statement issued on Monday by Nabila Massrali, the EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that “as a friend and partner of the people of Mozambique, the European Union supports the country restoring peace, security and stability across Cabo Delgado through an integrated approach, combining efforts in the areas of peace and security, development and humanitarian aid”.
The statement added that “at the request of the Mozambican government, the EU has deployed an EU Military Assistance Mission and supports the Rwanda Defence Forces deployed and operating in Cabo Delgado. No evidence has been put forward to support the claims that Rwandan troops are present in Maputo”.
Massrali said that “through the European Peace Facility, the European Union equips the Rwandan Defence Forces with protective individual equipment and pays the cost of the transport of military staff to fight the insurgency in Cabo Delgado”.
This support “takes place in full compliance with international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and its implementation is subject to rigorous safeguards, controls and monitoring mechanisms”.
The EU thus “absolutely refutes the grave and groundless allegations” that the EU is financing Rwandan forces “to violently suppress protests in Maputo”.
The statement concludes with a warning against the spread of disinformation “and calls on all parties to observe calm, restraint and a sense of responsibility”.
(AIM)
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