Mozambique: Mandatory military enlistment conditioned by armed violence, Covid, natural disasters – Watch

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Mozambique: Mandatory military enlistment conditioned by armed violence, Covid, natural disasters – Watch

4:45 CAT | 19 Feb 2021

Screen grab: STV

On Thursday, ten days before the end of the registration for compulsory military service, the authorities have registered only 51% of the 200,000 young women and men thought eligible. The Ministry of National Defence cites armed violence in the centre and north of the country as one of the reasons for the low turnout.

“We consider the numbers unsatisfactory” because, compared to previous years, “by this time we would have higher numbers” in relation to those “we have to present”, National Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Defence, Flora Chipanda, said.

Of the 200,000 young people expected to register by the 28th of this month, the Ministry of Defence has “been able to register 103,765, which corresponds to 51.87 percent”, 69,871 of them men and 33,894 women.

The armed attacks in Manica and Sofala attributed to the Renamo Military Junta and terrorism in Cabo Delgado are thought to be impairing the process, which has been running since January 2nd and is scheduled to end on February 28th, Chipanda said.

In addition to the armed conflicts, the Covid-19 pandemic and natural phenomena such as cyclones and floods are also causing constraints.

Chipanda also said that she felt that young people did not have enough information, especially about registration not automatically implying compulsory military service.

“We understand that there is a perception among young people, according to which registering is the same as being conscripted into the Armed Forces,” said Chianda. ”

“The registration covers all young people who turn 18 this year, but incorporation only takes place when the individual reaches the age of 20,” she explained. And even then “it [registration]does not mean that every young person enrolled will be called up” for compulsory military service, she added,.

“We have a system through which we randomly select young people to be incorporated, and according to the needs of the Armed Forces,” explained the National Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Defence.