Mozambique: EU calls for ‘strategic alliance’ against violent extremism in north

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Mozambique: EU calls for ‘strategic alliance’ against violent extremism in north

3:08 CAT | 28 Nov 2019

Photo: Twitter / @ACCORD_online

The European Union ambassador to Mozambique on Thursday called for urgent action to create a strategic alliance coordinated with the government of President Filipe Nyusi to address violent extremism in the north of the country.

“It is important to establish a strategic and coordinated alliance to identify the threat we face and create approaches to safeguard regional sustainability” in southern Africa, António Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar said yesterday at the opening of a seminar on violent extremism in in the region, taking place in Pretoria, South Africa.

According to the ambassador, the current insecurity in the province of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, threatens to spread to other parts of southern Africa, namely neighbouring South Africa and the hinterland countries.

“We do not have 40 years at our disposal for actions which don’t produce results. We have to find solutions to mitigate this problem in the next five years,” he said.

“It is necessary to consider new methods to address not only the causes of this phenomenon, but also its possible evolution and the rapid changes that occur due to digitisation and technology, among others,” he added.

“It is interesting to note that in the last two years the EU’s involvement in combating violent extremism has increased, compared to combating terrorism activities,” he said.

In the case of Mozambique, the European Union ambassador later told Lusa that the Mozambican government should spearhead a comprehensive strategy to address the growing violence in Cabo Delgado, taking into account the different players on the ground.

“As partners, we are able to assist, but we must also count on local communities, civil society organisations as well as private companies, not only those operating in the oil and gas sector, but from all industries,” he said.

“There may be sharing on the part of the government and a strategic alliance in which we can all invest more in creating better conditions for local people, providing basic services, creating employment opportunities for Mozambicans in a multi-pronged approach, “António Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar told Lusa .

ALSO READThe absence of state presence could worsen radicalisation of conflict in northern Mozambique – NGO

The seminar “Addressing the Threat of Violent Extremism in Southern Africa” was organised by the European Union (EU) in coordination with regional partners, namely the South African Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and brought together yesterday (November 27) in the South African capital researchers, academics, diplomats, and experts in terrorism and regional security to analyse the emerging phenomenon of radical groups in Mozambique and Southern Africa.

#EU Deputy Amb Raul De Luzenberger introduces the final session at the workshop on Addressing the Threat of Violent Extremism in Southern Africa. #SA_EUtalk @EU_ISS @HardemanHildeML @eu_eeas @ACCORD_online @EU_Commission @EU2019FI pic.twitter.com/lCVt46SmTj

— EU in SA (@EUinSA) November 27, 2019

A massive “Thank you” to all those who have provided such valuable insight during today’s seminar on Addressing the Threat of Violent Extremism in Southern Africa. A special thank you to our partners: @EU_ISS and @EU_Commission #ForeignPolicyInstruments @HardemanHildeML @eu_eeas pic.twitter.com/VCaTCNurRV

— ACCORD (@ACCORD_online) November 27, 2019