Mozambique: National security “the task of all Mozambicans"
EU military mission to Mozambique may be operating in months, bloc says
3:02 CAT | 28 May 2021
Photo: Twitter / @2021PortugalEU
The European Union could have a military training mission in place in Mozambique within several months, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said on Friday, helping the southern African country tackle Islamist insurgents.
“I think we could be able to approve this mission,” Josep Borrell told reporters ahead of an EU defence ministers meeting in Lisbon where the subject was due to be discussed.
The problem is to find additional countries besides Portugal to supply troops, he added.
Also read: Tanzania will not send troops to Mozambique – report
Borrell has previously said 200-300 personnel could be sent by the end of the year.
Following exchange with @jensstoltenberg on EU-@NATO cooperation yesterday, EU Defence Ministers today discuss capabilities basket of #StrategicCompass; @EUNAVFOR_MED & Mozambique and EU-Africa Cooperation with @Lacroix_UN & regional African organisations.https://t.co/AYPWQDvDDE pic.twitter.com/bkjiBkQNGM
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) May 28, 2021
Portugal sent 60 soldiers to its former colony Mozambique this month to begin training soldiers to counter the insurgency, share intelligence and use drones to track militants’ movements.
Portuguese Defence Minister Joao Cravinho said 7-8 other countries had expressed willingness to send troops but declined to name them. Portugal would be the “principal participant” in the mission, he said.
Cravinho expected the remaining EU troops to be dispatched within three to four months, “perhaps faster”.
Mozambique has been grappling with an insurgency in its northernmost province of Cabo Delgado since 2017 and violence has grown significantly in the past year.
Dozens of civilians were killed in Islamic State-linked attacks in the coastal town of Palma in April, and a $20 billion liquefied natural gas project run by oil giant Total was brought to a halt by the violence.
At today’s informal meeting of EU #Defence Ministers, Member States will exchange views and point the way forward on the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. Also participating are @vestager @ChairmanEUMC @EUDefenceAgency and @eu_eeas.#EU2021PT pic.twitter.com/xFrAMNZL6C
— 2021Portugal.eu (@2021PortugalEU) May 28, 2021
Minister @defesa_pt @JoaoCravinho receives the other EU Defence Ministers for the informal meeting starting this evening, in Lisbon. @NATO‘s Secretary-General @jensstoltenberg will also participate in the working dinner. #EU2021PT https://t.co/IzunwuYAYH
— 2021Portugal.eu (@2021PortugalEU) May 27, 2021
🔴Em direto / LIVE with 🇵🇹 Minister of State for Foreign Affairs @nestrangeiro_pt Augusto Santos Silva and HRVP @JosepBorrellF.#EU2021PT #Gymnich
https://t.co/QiepeoEkKz— 2021Portugal.eu (@2021PortugalEU) May 27, 2021
The topics on today’s agenda include the unresolved conflicts in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, EU-#Africa relations and the Indo-Pacific. In connection with the meeting, Ministers meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Ayman Safadi.#EU2021PT #Gymnich pic.twitter.com/CnUT9UxdvM
— 2021Portugal.eu (@2021PortugalEU) May 27, 2021
Source: Reuters
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