Africa-Press – Mozambique. The President of Mozambique on Friday called for structural reforms in the country’s armed forces so that they can anticipate threats to the country, after swearing in the new chief of general staff.
“This act [of taking office] should be seen as the turning point for achieving better results in the defence and stability of our homeland (…). We are affirming that, with the appointment of this chief of general staff, we are strengthening our capacity to respond to threats to the peace and territorial integrity of our country,” said Mozambique’s President, Daniel Chapo.
Júlio dos Santos Jane was sworn in on Friday as the new chief of staff of the Mozambique armed forces (FADM), replacing Joaquim Rivas Mangrasse.
The Mozambican president asked the new FADM chief of staff for a wide-ranging reform, starting with creating the conditions for the country’s army to fight terrorism, subversion and transnational crimes, especially illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, as well as cybercrime and demonstrations aimed at “destabilising the constitutional order”.
Daniel Chapo asked Júlio dos Santos Jane to put the FADM in “combative alertness”, also creating the conditions to anticipate and respond to crimes and threats to ensure national independence and sovereignty.
“We know that there are many soldiers and officers who reach the rank of officer without having undergone training and promotion courses. This is completely absurd in any army, in any country, because the ranks they hold do not correspond to the knowledge they have,” Chapo warned.
The president also asked the new chief of staff to put an end to the existence in the ranks of military personnel who are not committed in the theatre of operations.
“Some of them even have higher education in their field or speciality, but have never been in a trench, except during training. This type of soldier works in offices. We know that those who go into battle are practically the same. This must change immediately,” he added.
Daniel Chapo also called for reforms to turn the FADM into a force capable of “safeguarding” borders and protecting natural resources, which are fundamental to the growth and development of the domestic economy.
“There are officers and soldiers who aren’t physically fit to serve in the military. They need to be retired (…) There are many who are at home, in undefined situations, receiving fees from the state without working, which greatly increases the wage bill of the armed forces. It is urgent to resolve this issue this year,” he concluded.
Júlio dos Santos Jane was rector of the Marechal Samora Machel Military Academy, in the city of Nampula, and also director-general of the State Information and Security Service (SISE).
For More News And Analysis About Mozambique Follow Africa-Press
