Africa-Press – Cape verde. The new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, CEMFA, António Duarte, said this Saturday, at the time of his swearing in, that he will prioritize the operationalization of all naval means, so that the military institution is present and projected there where necessary. .
Sworn in by the President of the Republic, José Maria Neves, the Rear Admiral, António Monteiro, highlighted the gains achieved by the institution over the years, but convinced that much still needs to be done, across all sectors, so that the Armed Forces can rise to their challenges
“First of all, I would like to thank the Government and the President of the Republic for the trust placed in me, the task that lies ahead is enormous and I am aware of the responsibilities that rest on my shoulders, but I am also aware of our will to work and our skills”, he pointed out.
Rear Admiral António Monteiro assured that his priority will be the operationalization of all the naval assets of the Armed Forces, so that the military institution can be present in all the islands, but aware of the challenges that lie ahead.
Bearing in mind that at the moment the Armed Forces are present on the islands of São Vicente, Sal and Santiago, he defended that it is necessary to work so that the institution is projected there where it is necessary and when it is necessary.
“For this to happen, we have to have the means of projection, which is why the Coast Guard will certainly deserve special attention, above all, the means we have and following the acquisition of the aeronautical means that will complete the squadron that at the moment does not does not have any aerial means”, he added.
On the other hand, he added that the armed forces have a range of highly trained staff and are able to materialize the projects in mind, but he stressed that it is necessary to carry out a general review of all legislation, as the current one is quite dispersed.
main guardian
For his part, the Head of State, José Maria Neves, highlighted the importance of the Armed Forces being responsible for implementing the military component of the strategic concept of national defense and the main guardian in facing the challenges resulting from the intensity of extreme weather events, the ocean protection or security.
In addition to investments and acquisitions, he argued that it is necessary to give greater strategic relevance to all investments for the national defense sector, especially at a time when there is a proliferation of transnational crimes, which endanger the security of States, and the involvement of FA in public interest missions tends to increase in scale and intensity.
“I think it is a challenge for the new leadership of the Armed Forces to create conditions so that the institution can participate with opportunities, in the already announced missions of public interest under the terms of the Constitution of the Republic”, pointed out the Head of State, who said that the versatility of the criminal phenomenon often requires cross-border responses.
The new CEMFA replaces Major General Anildo Morais, who was appointed Chief of Staff of the FA in 2016.
Born in São Nicolau, sea captain António Monteiro was designated, in 1993, as the first representative of the Naval Units, in São Vicente, with the creation of the Coast Guard.
António Duarte Monteiro played, throughout his military career, important roles in the Armed Forces, as commander of the Coast Guard between 2009 and 2012, commander of the Naval Squadron of the Coast Guard Command between 2007 and 2009 and commander of the Naval Units of the Guard Command Coastal between 2006 and 2007.
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