Mozambique and Tanzania to boost defence and security cooperation

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Mozambique and Tanzania to boost defence and security cooperation

8:44 CAT | 22 Sep 2022

Photo: Presidente Filipe Nyusi on Facebook

Mozambique and Tanzania on Wednesday signed two cooperation agreements to boost Defence and Security and Search and Rescue operations.

The signing of the agreements witnessed by the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi and his Tanzanian counterpart, Samia Suhulo, on the first of her four-day visit to Mozambique.

Mozambique’s Defence Minister, Cristóvão Chume and his Tanzanian counterpart, Stergomena Tax, signed the agreement on defence and security.

In the meantime, Search and Rescue operations Transport and Comunications Minister Mateus Magala, signed the agreement on behalf on behalf of the Mozambican government while, Mbaro Nasori on behalf of the Tanzanian government.

Speaking at a press conference, shortly after the signing of the agreements, Nyusi praised Tanzania’s readiness to combat terrorism and its commitments in other areas of cooperation.

According to Nyusi, apart from fighting terrorism the two countries are currently focused on hydrocarbon exploitation.

“I must point out that in the context of terrorism President Samia directly said that in addition to her country engagement participation through the Southern African Development Community Mission to Mozambique (SAMIM) Tanzania is available for bilateral cooperation without resigning from SAMIM. Also, we share the same border and, obviously the same problems”, he added.

As for terrorism, he said that he seized the opportunity to inform how the insurgents are operating. Currently, the terrorists are operating in small groups and moving to other districts in the north of the country.

I also had the opportunity to talk about the great impact that the forces of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in partnership with Rwanda and Mozambique are having in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

“An important thing that was discussed is the need for more cooperation in the hydrocarbon exploitation”, said Nyusi.

He explained that the need to increase cooperation was one of the issues that was discussed by both Mozambique and Tanzania. Both clearly understand that they could individually seek experience from distant countries, which have large experience in hydrocarbons exploitation. But Mozambique believes that both countries would be better off if they could take advantage of their proximity especially during negotiations where, often, mistakes are made

For her part, Suhulo reiterated the commitment of her country to continue providing support to Mozambique in the fight against terrorism.

She stressed the need for Mozambique and Tanzania to strengthen cooperation in the field of Defence and Security in view of the extensive border shared by both countries.

“We are aware that Mozambique and Tanzania share an extensive border, about 800 kilometres long, the longest in the region. So we are aware that we have to strengthen our cooperation mechanisms,’ she said.

Suhulo recalled that both countries have been experiencing serious problems of violent crime, including terrorism in Mozambique, hence the importance of to improve bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

Both heads of state expressed their readiness to expand cooperation to education, which could culminate with the exchange of higher education students, but also the introduction of the Swahili language in education system in Mozambique.

Source: AIM