Number of Mozambicans registered for military service grows to almost 281,000

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Number of Mozambicans registered for military service grows to almost 281,000

4:38 CAT | 11 Mar 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]

Almost 281,000 young Mozambicans were registered for military service in Mozambique this year, 1.7% more than in 2023 and above target for all provinces, including Cabo Delgado, it was announced today.

“Cabo Delgado had planned to register 15,789 young people and managed to register 17,421 young people, an execution of around 110%. As you can see, despite terrorism in Cabo Delgado, the province managed not only to reach the established target, but to exceed it,” National Director of Human Resources of the Ministry of National Defence, Colonel Jorge Delfim Leonel, announced at a press conference in Maputo today.

The 2024 military census took place across the country and in diplomatic missions from January 2nd to February 28th, covering all Mozambican citizens born in 2006 and those who were not registered in previous years, up to the age of 35.

“All the districts headquarters [of Cabo Delgado], at least during the period in which the census took place, were operational. Conditions were created for this census to take place smoothly,” Colonel Leonel stressed in response to journalists’ questions, given the new wave of terrorist attacks in the province, which in February alone left around 100,000 people displaced.

According to Leonel, it was planned to register 221,141 young people, of both sexes, in 2024, through 1,670 military registration posts, of which 171 were mobile, but the final number amounted to 280,878, of which of which 103,347 are female.

This was an execution of 127% compared to target and 1.7% more than the 2023 census, which registered 278,035 young people.

“In general, we can state, with authority and without fear of making mistakes, that the census operations took place throughout the country, including in the province of Cabo Delgado, in a peaceful environment, and the result of this is that our goals, both in Cabo Delgado, as well as in other provinces, were not only achieved, but also surpassed,” Colonel Leonel emphasised.

Given that some of the young people to be incorporated into the Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique (FAMD) will go on to fight in Cabo Delgado, the colonel highlighted that those fighting terrorist groups in the Northern Operational Theatre (TON) would go on to “create stability” in the north of the country.

“Security is something that any state has to prioritize, so that justice and well-being can prevail. As long as there is no security, justice and well-being will not exist. That is why we are all called to encourage the young people in Cabo Delgado, to fight with all the sacrifice that is made for them,” he concluded.

The Minister of National Defence of Mozambique, Cristóvao Chume, highlighted in January the need to recruit more young people for Mandatory Military Service (SMO), given the terrorist threat that the country still faces.

“I want to remind young people that the country is ours and no one else’s. The country mainly belongs to young people, because they are the ones who build the present and also build the future. Let’s not let terrorism spread, let’s protect our families, let’s join together as a unique people,” Minister of National Defence Cristóvão Chume said at the launch of this year’s military census campaign in Nhamatanda district, Sofala province.

Source: Lusa