Mozambique. Defence Minister reiterates to Portuguese counterpart the request made to the European Union – Lusa

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Mozambique. Defence Minister reiterates to Portuguese counterpart the request made to the European Union – Lusa

10:07 CAT | 09 Dec 2020

Photo: Lusa

Defence Minister Jaime Neto reiterated to his Portuguese counterpart, João Gomes Cravinho, the request made for international support to combat terrorism in Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, Lusa reports

The position is expressed in a statement on the meeting between the two defence ministers held in Maputo yesterday, but without further details on any possible partnership with Portugal concerning the province.

“Jaime Neto reiterated the request for support made to the European Union (EU) and expressed gratitude for the prompt response professing full availability to provide assistance to the country, specifically in the province of Cabo Delgado, in the fight against terrorism and in support of the population,” a statement from the Mozambican Ministry of Defence reads.

The defence sector “continues to cooperate with international partners, with the emphasis on the Southern African Development Community, in order to address the prevailing instability and terrorist actions in some areas,” it adds.

In addition to these two references to the region experiencing conflict, the communique addresses bilateral cooperation and cooperation within the scope of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries.

At the meeting, Minister Neto indicated to Gomes Cravinho that “one of the greatest challenges facing the Armed Defence Forces of Mozambique (FADM) is the formation and training of its human capital”.

In this context, the two leaders reiterated their positive assessment of the 2018-2021 framework programme, noting that training is “a basic pillar of cooperation”.

“Mozambique considers it important to continue investing in this area, to mutual benefit,” the communique stresses, adding that “Military Technical Cooperation, in general, contributes to the FADM acquiring military pedagogical-scientific self-sufficiency”.

Mozambique’s defence minister also reaffirmed the country’s interest in contributing to the legal discussions around the joint participation of CPLP armed forces in international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

The Portuguese defence minister will be in Mozambique until Friday, his agenda including a visit to military facilities this Thursday, without the presence of journalists, a Mozambican government source told Lusa.

The armed violence in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, is causing a humanitarian crisis with around 2,000 deaths, in which displaced people, without housing or food, have been concentrated in the provincial capital, Pemba – but they have reached numerous other districts in the north and centre of the country.

The province has been under attack by insurgents for three years, with some of the incursions claimed, since 2019, by the Islamic State jihadist group.

Source: Lusa