Africa-Press – Mozambique. Former defence and foreign minister Paulo Portas said that Portuguese diplomacy played an important role in mobilising European partners to support Mozambique in fighting against Islamic insurgency but regretted the late decisions.
In an interview with Lusa in Luanda, the former leader of the CDS, who was deputy prime minister, foreign minister and minister of defence and the sea, acknowledged that sending a European mission to Cabo Delgado was late, given the violence in northern Mozambique, which began in 2017, but stressed that one could only offer some support in terms of training and military training to a sovereign country when it asks for it, “clearly and safely.
“The problem dragged on for quite some time, obviously, because Mozambique wanted to protect its international reputation – which we have to understand – and the European Union has a decision-making process that is complex,” said the former government official, who was in Luanda on Tuesday to take part in a Deloitte conference on Angolan banking.
A European mission that, he noted, was the result of long work by Portuguese diplomats to convince European partners.
“Portugal] tried to convince countries that do not even know where the north of Mozambique is and do not have a very African diplomacy,” about this need, he said, adding that the good future of Mozambique depended on how the country tackled the problem of terrorism.
Paulo Portas, who currently provides international strategic business advice, also considered that this was not an easy decision for Mozambique: “Portugal had a conflict situation in Mozambique less than 50 years ago, these things are not simple and explaining the presence of Portuguese military in a sovereign state such as Mozambique is always a sensitive issue.
On the delay in requesting help, he suggested that Mozambique may have considered that it could stop the problem by appealing to its regional partners, which did not happen.
“However, the request was made, and it is good that it was made at the European Union level,” said Portas, adding that the essential thing was for Mozambique’s armed forces to have the capacity to manage the issue and praising the support provided in an area of cooperation “which is always very sensitive.
Mozambique has been fighting a rebellion in Cabo Delgado province, in the far north of the country, since 2017. Still, in recent months violence has increased significantly, and the Mozambican government has asked the European Union for help.
On Monday, EU foreign ministers approved the launch of a military training mission in Mozambique that aims to “train and support the Mozambican Armed Forces” in “restoring security” in the territory and will be led by the Portuguese Army Brigadier General Nuno Lemos Pires.
“This mission aims to train and support the Mozambican armed forces in protecting the civilian population and in restoring security in Cabo Delgado province,” reads a statement published by the Council of the European Union (EU).
This decision by the EU is “the EU’s response to the request by the Mozambican authorities for a strengthened EU commitment in the areas of peace and security,” after on 3 June Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi called for “a non-executive EU military training mission for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) to be sent to the country.
Armed groups have terrorised Cabo Delgado since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the ‘jihadist’ group Islamic State, in a wave of violence that has led to more than 2,800 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and 732,000 displaced people, according to the UN.
