China to train Mozambican forces against terrorism – AIM report

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China to train Mozambican forces against terrorism – AIM report

7:26 CAT | 06 Sep 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Presidente Filipe Nyusi/Facebook]

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has announced that China may support the training of Mozambican military personnel in the fight against the Islamist terrorism that has been plaguing parts of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, since October 2017.

Speaking to reporters, on Thursday, at the end of his six-day working visit to China, the President said that, in the next few days, the Chinese military authorities should present the strategic details for the training of the Mozambican military, including maritime protection and combating drug trafficking.

“They’re going to say how they’re going to do it. During the bilateral meetings, we learnt that China will support us in the protection against terrorism and drug trafficking. They also went into greater depth when they said that they are going to train more military personnel”, he said.

According to Nyusi, during the bilateral meetings, China guaranteed to continue providing assistance to the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS).

The country currently counts on the support of the European Union Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM), which will continue until 30 June 2026. On a bilateral basis, the country also counts on the support of forces from Rwanda and Tanzania, after the mandate of the Southern African Development Community Military Mission (SAMIM) expired in July.

The Chinese government website cites Chinese President Xi Jinping as saying that his country supports Mozambique in the fight against terrorism and in maintaining peace and stability, adding that it is ready to co-operate closely with the country on multilateral platforms, including the United Nations.

“China is willing to expand cooperation with Mozambique in areas such as infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, agriculture and the digital economy, and support Mozambique’s industrialization and economic diversification”, he said.

He also said that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Mozambique and China and “hopes that both sides will join forces to carry forward the friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and add new content to the China-Mozambique comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.”

Source: AIM