Maputo, 14 May (AIM) – The Council of the European Union (EU) has decided to extend the mandate of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM MOZ) for a further six months, meaning that the mission will remain operational until December of this year.
EUMAM MOZ is a non-executive programme with the purpose of assisting the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) to fight Islamist terrorism that has been plaguing the northern province of Cabo Delgado, since 2017.
According to a report carried out by the independent conflict registration project ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project), over 6,000 people were killed by Islamist terrorists in Cabo Delgado.
It has been developing capacities to ensure that FADM can implement and sustain the cycle of operational employment of the Rapid Reaction Forces, thus contributing to the stability and development of the Cabo Delgado project, with regard to human rights and international humanitarian law.
According to a statement, the extension of the current mandate is linked to the need to continue developing the FADM capacity-building programmes, focusing on the Quick Reaction Forces (QRF), their operational cycle, logistics and maintenance, and contribute to their sustainability and self-sufficiency.
“In this way, the EU in general and EUMAM MOZ in particular demonstrate their strong commitment to supporting Mozambique and the FADM in promoting peace in Cabo Delgado”, reads the note.
The document reveals that since the start of EUMAM MOZ mandate on 1 September 2024, more than 40 training programmes have been implemented in close collaboration with the FADM, involving 1200 Mozambican military personnel, of whom approximately 300 are currently undergoing the regeneration programmes of the Commandos and Marines QRF.
These assistance and mentoring activities, implemented through an integrated approach, include programmes in areas such as Command and Control, Logistics, Training of Trainers for QRF instructors, Maintenance and Transport, Leadership, Military Pedagogy, Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC), Strategic Communication, Gender Perspective, International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law and Institutional Advisory Services to the FADM General Staff.
Currently commanded by Commodore César Pires Correia, EUMAM MOZ has more than 80 military and civilian personnel from 11 EU Member States – Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and one non-EU: Serbia.
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