Mozambique: EU support ‘limited’ without troops on the ground – Eurasia

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: EU support ‘limited’ without troops on the ground – Eurasia

3:28 CAT | 19 Oct 2020

File photo: DW

Consulting firm Eurasia said on Monday that the European Union’s support to Mozambique in combating the attacks in the north of the country will have a “limited” effect because it does not involve the deployment of troops on the ground.

In a report, sent to clients and accessed by Lusa, Eurasia said that “the European Union will provide support to Mozambican troops fighting the insurgency in Cabo Delgado, most likely in the form of training, logistics and medical services”.

On 9 October, the EU Ambassador in Maputo, Antonio Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar, handed the Mozambican foreign minister, Verónica Macamo, a letter from the head of European diplomacy to Mozambique’s request for assistance, in which Josep Borrell confirmed that the European bloc will help the country to cope with the crisis in the Cabo Delgado region.

Antonio Sánchez-Benedito Gaspar explained on the occasion that the idea is to strengthen Mozambique’s response capacities, but made it clear that “the sending of European military to the country is not on the agenda”.

Last week, the European External Action Service pointed out that the approach that will be given, following the response of the high representative, Josep Borrell, to the request for assistance addressed to him in September by the Mozambican authorities, will take into account the humanitarian, development and security aspects, the so-called “three-link approach”, and always “respecting international human rights standards and the rule of law”.

In statements to Lusa in Brussels, the spokesman recalled that the EU and Mozambique have already opened a political dialogue focused on these three strands, which will provide “the opportunity to discuss concrete assistance options”, and stressed that humanitarian and development cooperation assistance for the Cabo Delgado region is already underway, with ongoing programmes which constitute “important pillars of the European Union’s response”.

“Among the actions underway, there is a programme aimed at discouraging recruitment and radicalisation, and aimed at fostering social cohesion”, he pointed out, adding that “EU support also includes projects for youth and civil society, capacity building and job creation”.

The same source also pointed out that “a vocational education and training project is being prepared with European gas companies to ensure that the local population benefits from the development of the sector”.

Cabo Delgado province, in the north of Mozambique, has been the scene of armed attacks for three years by forces classified as terrorists.

The violence has caused a humanitarian crisis with over 1,000 deaths and some 250,000 internally displaced people.

Source: Lusa