Africa-Press – Mozambique. The military must remain loyalty to the Mozambican nation while fighting terrorists in Cabo Delgado province, not giving in to any kind of enticement by these extremist groups, Minister of National Defence Jaime Neto has said.
Minister Jaime Neto explained that the military needed to bear in mind that terrorists might entice them into strengthening their ranks, as they are continually suffering heavy casualties and leaving behind military equipment used in their raids.
Jaime Neto was speaking at the Army Practice School, Munguine, Manhiça district, Maputo province, at the closing ceremony of the year’s 1st Round of Basic Military Instruction.
“Your joviality, the quality of training you have received and the energy you carry make you desirable targets for terrorist recruitment. Therefore, be on high alert; honour and serve your country and the people you swore to defend, and not a group of bandits with obscure agendas that are opposed to the nation,” Minister Neto said.
The defence minister told the graduates to be on standby when deployed to clarify the situation of armed attacks in the centre of the country, with a view to putting an end to the armed actions led by Mariano Nhongo.
He recalled that being a military man was more than a profession; it encompassed, he said, empathy, solidarity, discipline, camaraderie, patriotism, sacrifice, courage and respect for the hierarchy. The recruits must therefore embody these principles in their mission and in their relationship with the community.
Jaime Neto said that community support was crucial for the fulfilment of any operational mission. “Therefore, treat the community with love, respect and cordiality. We do not want to hear about violence against the population perpetrated by you, as we know that your military training does not include this type of behaviour,” he warned.
The Ministry of National Defence has established four priorities to guide its activities in the period 2020-2024, namely training, infrastructure, logistics and military health. The identification of these areas would help establish the necessary foundations for the fulfilment of their constitutional mission.
Regarding training, the minister stated that ongoing training of human capital has been carried out as a way of preparing them for various tasks taking into account scenarios generated by current security challenges.
For example, Neto said, the training of the Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique was particularly adapted to the “modus operandi” of the terrorists, without neglecting other prevailing threats, particularly in the centre of the country or that may arise elsewhere.
