Mozambique: PSD calls for “international solution” by EU

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Mozambique: PSD calls for “international solution” by EU

5:39 CAT | 14 Jul 2020

File photo: Lusa

The main opposition party in Portugal, PSD, on Monday asked the government to raise awareness in the European Union of the need to find an “international solution” to enable Mozambique “to face up to the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado”, as a matter of urgency as well as sending humanitarian aid.

In a draft resolution (without the force of law) delivered today in the parliament, the social democrats pointed out that in mid-April, the European Union stated that “it is following with concern the worsening of the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, with growing insecurity of local populations and the rapid multiplication of the number of internally displaced people”.

“However, it is not enough to follow only with apprehension the worsening of the humanitarian situation in northern Mozambique. The international community cannot ignore this humanitarian tragedy. The pandemic cannot be an excuse for the European Union or Portugal to lose interest in the fate of the entire population of northern Mozambique”, the members of the PSD said.

The PSD considered that “Mozambicans need the Portuguese, the Europeans, the international community” and point out that the minister of foreign affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, said in mid-June that “Portugal is available to build an international solution that will allow Mozambique to face the terrorist attacks in the north of the country”.

The PSD recommends the government to “initiate, as a matter of urgency, an action to raise awareness with the European Union, in order to find an international solution that allows Mozambique to face the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado, always taking into account the deep respect for the sovereignty of that country”.

Furthermore, the Social Democrats asked the government to urge the European Union, through the European External Action Service, to prepare, as a matter of urgency, “humanitarian aid missions, with the aim of promoting peace through political and economic support and guaranteeing security, thus participating in the construction of a solution of international support to Mozambique for the defence of its populations, for the defence of its territorial integrity, for the defence of its sovereignty”.

“It is important to remember that the Common Security and Defence Policy is an instrument of the European Union aimed at meeting the challenges arising from armed conflicts, political instability, terrorism and organised crime”, state the PSD Members, considering that the EU can highlight missions “to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, supporting initiatives and activities to combat terrorism on the African continent”.

The number of internally displaced persons due to violence in northern Mozambique has doubled since March and now amounts to 250,00 people, according to the latest information from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The armed violence in Cabo Delgado has intensified since March but has been going on since 2017, causing the death of at least 700 people, in a movement whose origin is still under debate and to which the ‘jihadist’ Islamic State group has been associated for a year, demanding several incursions.

The Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) are on the ground, but information about their activity is scarce, referring occasionally to some actions – at the end of May, they announced a counter-attack that added to others will have resulted in the slaughter of 150 rebels and some leaders.

Source: Lusa