Attacks in Cabo Delgado: Government asks the EU for help in training, logistical support to the FDS – Carta

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Attacks in Cabo Delgado: Government asks the EU for help in training, logistical support to the FDS – Carta

5:11 CAT | 22 Sep 2020

File photo: Lusa

The Mozambican government decided last week to ask the European Union (EU) for support in the area of specialised military training to combat terrorism and the insurgency.

Through Ministry Letter n. 1818 / GMNEC / 995/2020, dated the 16th of September, by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Macamo, the Government of Maputo requests support in the fields of training and logistics for counter-terrorism forces, plus technical training of personnel and medical assistance in the combat zone.

Support in these areas would, according to the Mozambican executive, reinforce the military and security response, prevent the advance of the terrorists, and restore law and order in Cabo Delgado.

The request was addressed to Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in Brussels.

“Bearing in mind the need to reinforce military and security response measures, as well as [to] counter the advance of terrorists and restore public law, order and tranquillity in the affected districts, the Government of Mozambique considers support in the area of specialised training important to combat terrorism and insurgency, through multiform support: training, logistics for the forces to combat terrorism, medical assistance equipment in combat zones and technical training of personnel,” the government’s request to Brussels says.

In addition to support in the military field, the Mozambican government says it hopes to count on the support of MEPs in mobilising humanitarian aid for the victims of the armed attacks in Cabo Delgado.

Maputo authorities consider “important” the strengthening of support from international cooperation partners for the programmes and projects that are being implemented in Cabo Delgado by the Integrated Development Agency of the North (ADIN).

According to government figures, the attacks in Cabo Delgado have cost the lives of around 800 people and displaced some 300,000 since their inception in October 2017.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament (EP) says, in a resolution passed last week, that the armed attacks have already taken more than 1,500 lives, displaced more than 250,000, and rendered more than 700,000 people in need of some form of assistance.

Also in its letter, the Mozambique government says it is concerned with the trend of intensifying and spreading terrorist actions to more districts in the province than the current nine. It also claims that the terrorists, in addition to kidnapping, murdering and looting, use children and women as human shields in attacks on Defence and Security Force (FDS) positions.

Last week, Cabo Delgado was the subject of discussion in the European Parliament, culminating in the drafting of a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Mozambique, which passed with 616 votes in favour, 13 against and 57 abstentions.

The resolution, in addition to urging the Mozambican government to take “effective” and “decisive” measures, warns of the risk of the insurrection growing and spreading to neighbouring countries, jeopardising regional stability.

The EU says that a “more coordinated regional and international response” to the humanitarian crisis and terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado is necessary.

In another development, the EU argued that the Maputo authorities should carry out an independent and impartial investigation into alleged human rights violations by elements of the FDS, and must, to this end, grant access to independent researchers and human rights activists.

By Ilódio Bata

Source: Carta de Moçambique