Mozambique: New Defence and Security heads take office – WATCH

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Mozambique: New Defence and Security heads take office – WATCH

5:44 CAT | 30 Oct 2017

TVM

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Monday challenged the new leadership of the defence and security forces to forestall any situations that might endanger the sovereignty of the Mozambican state.

He was speaking at ceremonies where he swore into office Julio dos Santos Jane as General Director of the State Intelligence and Security Service (SISE); Lazaro Menete as Chief of Staff of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM); and Bernadino Rafael and Timoteo Bernardo as General Commander and Deputy General Commander of the police force.

Nyusi said that the new appointments are intended to guarantee Mozambican sovereignty and create adequate conditions for citizens to enjoy their rights.

He said that Jane was taking on the task of leading SISE at a time “when we are facing new phenomena which, by their peculiarity, may affect our security and hence our sovereignty”.

Nyusi was not specific, but presumably he had in mind such incidents as the abortive islamist raid on the northern town of Mocimboa da Praia on 5 October.

The fundamental task of SISE, stressed the President, was to collect, systematise and produce data on threats which could endanger the democratic state and rule of law enshrined in the Mozambican constitution.

“It is important”, he added, “that this work be undertaken in due time to prevent what is today a threat from becoming tomorrow a fait accompli with serious repercussions on state security”.

The new leaders of the defence and security forces, the President said, are taking office at a time when the country, the region and the world are facing “great challenges” with regard to peace.

“A context like this demands a simultaneous vision of different domains”, he said. “You should opt for a new stance that anticipates phenomena which could ensure future success”.

He reiterated the urgency of forecasting the direction threats might take at various moments.

“The criterion for choosing you”, Nyusi told the new defence and security heads, “was recognition of your competence. We believe you will remain loyal to the supreme interests of the Mozambican people”.

Source: AIM / TVM