Mozambique: World Bank promises not to abandon the country

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Mozambique: World Bank promises not to abandon the country

9:08 CAT | 18 May 2021

Photo: Twitter / @AxelVT_WB

The World Bank “will not abandon” Mozambique, the Bank’s Director of Operations, Axel van Trotsenburg said on Tuesday, adding that sustainable development is essential to sustain peace in Cabo Delgado (northern Mozambique).

“The World Bank wants to work with Mozambique to see how sustainable development can support the country in its search for peace. It is a difficult process, but we are not going to abandon the country,” Axel van Trotsenburg told journalists.

The World Bank representative met today with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on the sidelines of a Summit on the Future of African Economies, being held in Paris.

Axel van Trotsenburg believes that terrorism is “a terrible challenge” and one of the most difficult problems to solve in terms of its impact on economies, but the World Bank’s support is total, he said.

“The relationship between Mozambique and the World Bank is strong, and I think we can continue to build a relationship of trust and good partnership,” van Trotsenburg said.

The World Bank also stressed the importance of the solution for Cabo Delgado being built by Mozambicans.

“It is important that Mozambique finds a solution among Mozambicans. They know their own country, its dynamics, but we can provide complementary support,” he concluded.

Armed groups have terrorised Cabo Delgado since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the ‘jihadist’ group Islamic State, in a wave of violence that has led to more than 2,500 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and 714,000 displaced people, according to the Mozambican government.

About six kilometres from the multinational Total’s natural gas project, the village of Palma suffered an armed attack on March 24, which Mozambican authorities say resulted in the deaths of dozens of people and the flight of thousands.

The Mozambican authorities regained control of the town. Still, the attack led oil company Total to abandon the gas project site indefinitely due to start production in 2024. Many of Mozambique’s economic growth expectations for the next decade are anchored.

Thank you Mozambique President Nyusi for our meeting. We talked about @WorldBank support for Mozambique’s development priorities, incl. #COVID crisis response & ensuring a resilient recovery focused on reforms, support to fragile areas, delivering results and improving lives. pic.twitter.com/Ot1yuyVmG7

— Axel van Trotsenburg (@AxelVT_WB) May 18, 2021