Africa-Press – Mozambique. In the aftermath of the 39th African Union Summit, the President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, gave a “very positive” assessment of Angola’s leadership of the organisation, highlighted the challenges of climate change at continental level and stressed that Africa must be represented on the UN Security Council.
What assessment do you make of this 39th African Union Summit?
President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo: I make a very positive assessment, because the 39th African Union Summit focused heavily on issues related to infrastructure and, above all, the issue of water across the continent.
Specifically regarding the Angolan Presidency [of the African Union], I give a very positive assessment, because President João Lourenço made an extraordinary effort to see whether we could achieve peace, for example, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in addition to several initiatives he launched on matters of peace and security, which are among the major concerns of countries across the African continent.
Another very important aspect is related to the challenges of climate change. All of us across the continent are more united. This is a matter in which Africa must continue to make its voice heard globally.
Another very important aspect is securing a seat for the African continent on the United Nations Security Council.
RFI Português: A meeting also took place on the sidelines of the African Union Summit to prepare an African position regarding the next Secretary-General of the United Nations — António Guterres’ mandate ends in December 2026. Would it be important for Africa to be aligned not only in the race for Secretary-General but also in representation on the Security Council?
It is an extremely important point for the African continent. President João Lourenço undertook that work during his mandate. As Africa, we succeeded in making our voice heard at the United Nations General Assembly in September last year, when we were in New York.
As African countries, we must organise ourselves so that Africa can also make itself heard. We believe the time has come for the United Nations to undertake reform, which goes beyond the question of the Secretary-General and includes the issue of a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
RFI Português: The issue of coups d’état has plagued Africa for many years and was once again raised at this summit. Is this also a matter of concern to you?
It concerns me greatly, and I would once again like to commend President João Lourenço. In his end-of-mandate speech, he was very clear in condemning, using very firm and necessary words, that we cannot normalise coups d’état on the African continent. Recently, what has been happening is that coups take place and then we normalise them.
We are democratic states governed by the rule of law. We hold elections every five years and we believe it is extremely important, as Africans, to continue respecting the principles that govern our national constitutions, as well as the principles of the African Union.
African peoples have the right to choose their leaders and to continue working without coups d’état.
I was very impressed by the way President João Lourenço condemned this, and we believe that, as African leaders, this is the path we must follow.
Water and sanitation are priorities of this new rotating presidency of the African Union. This is a critical dossier for Africa. Specifically in Mozambique, what is the situation?
It is an extremely critical dossier not only for Mozambique but for the entire African continent. For a very simple reason: our greatest challenge is infrastructure for water retention, water treatment to ensure drinking water, and sanitation issues, which are extremely important in order to prevent disease.
In Mozambique specifically, we are currently suffering from floods. We also had Cyclone Gezani, which affected the country. Around 800,000 people were displaced to temporary accommodation centres.
If we had financial resources to build dams and infrastructure capable of containing water flows, it would be a major solution.
But I also want to mention something very important: climate change is a global reality. This is something I have said at all international meetings related to climate change and climate justice, environmental justice.
RFI Português: Climate is a global issue. But Mozambique is one of the countries that suffers most from the consequences of climate change. Your country had not yet recovered from flooding and was already being hit by a cyclone. At what stage is the climate justice so often discussed at these summits?
Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go from words to action. I have said this at all international meetings and, as the African Union’s champion for disaster management, I reiterated this message.
If the world truly recognised that Africa, and Mozambique in particular, contributes almost nothing to pollution but, due to its geographical location, cyclically suffers from floods and cyclonic winds, then there should be compensation — that would be true climate justice — so that Mozambique could build this infrastructure for water management, dams and so forth.
We have projects and plans, but the financial resources we currently have are not sufficient.
If the world were truly united and understood the issue of climate justice, we could have financing from those who pollute more for those who pollute less, such as Mozambique, which unfortunately suffers the greatest consequences.
RFI Português: Even so, Mozambique has made progress, improving its warning systems, and the population is now more aware of recommendations and official alerts, because in terms of fatalities the numbers have been decreasing.
Yes, without any doubt, the figures speak for themselves. In 2000, floods occurred in Gaza province with a lower magnitude than the floods of 2026, yet we had around 700 deaths and more than 2,000 missing persons. The floods of 2026 had a greater magnitude than those of 2000, yet we had fewer missing persons and far fewer deaths. I am speaking about floods that occurred in the same area at different times.
We are continually improving, and we also had Cyclone Gezani. If there had been no prior warning and no alert, and if the population had not taken preventive measures to avoid serious consequences, I am absolutely certain that Gezani would have caused greater damage.
It caused less damage because the Mozambican population is now alert to these situations and complies.
We still face challenges, because unfortunately some people do not comply. But when we compare what happened before with what happens today in terms of consequences, the situation in Mozambique has improved considerably.
RFI Português: In Addis Ababa, did you seek support for the reconstruction of the country following floods and the cyclone, namely at the Italy–Africa Summit?
Yes, we made several contacts through the African Union, and the African Union assured us it would continue mobilising resources to support the reconstruction phase. At the Italy–Africa Summit, we again expressed our gratitude for the support we have received from the European Union and its Member States.
At this stage, populations are displaced and are gradually returning home, but we still have accommodation centres. We are certain that we will need to rebuild the country afterwards. Our partners have responded positively.
At present, both international and national cooperation partners are preparing so that we can work together to rebuild the country after this phase.
RFI Português: The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said he was very concerned about the situation in Cabo Delgado. Specifically, what strategies is your government adopting to protect civilians and guarantee security? And what are the main difficulties the Mozambican government faces in ending terrorism and the insurgency in that region?
At this moment, what I can guarantee is that the security situation is relatively better than it was before. I say this because when the first attacks occurred in 2017, these terrorist groups occupied several towns in the northern districts of Cabo Delgado province. For example, the towns of Macomia and Mocímboa da Praia were fully occupied.
When I say it is relatively better, I mean that at this moment there is no town in Cabo Delgado province under occupation. Public institutions continue to function, populations remain in the towns, but there have been sporadic terrorist attacks, mainly in villages surrounding the towns, particularly in the districts of Mocímboa da Praia and Macomia. That is the main concern.
When these sporadic attacks occur, populations are displaced. When there is gunfire or an attack, people flee. Fortunately, we have once again received significant support from United Nations agencies and other partners, who continue to provide assistance to displaced populations.
RFI Português: Does the country need more assistance?
At present, we have support from the European Union, which is working with us. We are also continuing to work with Rwandan forces on the ground and with our Mozambican Armed Defence Forces. Regarding assistance to the population, we believe support is always necessary. United Nations agencies and cooperation partners are on the ground and continue to work, and we are also working in various ways to find a solution to terrorism in Cabo Delgado.
But it is a complex issue. Terrorism is not solely a Mozambican phenomenon; it is global and international. As I mentioned earlier regarding climate justice, if the world understood that terrorism is a global phenomenon that must be contained, we would need to unite as a world to end it, just as with climate change, which affects the entire world, although with particular impact in certain regions.
RFI Português: How important is multilateralism in today’s increasingly fragmented and rapidly changing world?
Exactly. I believe multilateralism is extremely important, but nowadays some focus only on bilateral issues and are not concerned with multilateralism, which may endanger the future of this planet.
Climate change and terrorism are global phenomena that cannot be addressed solely through bilateral arrangements. I could give many other examples demonstrating that multilateralism is extremely important at global level in addressing the many challenges facing the world.
RFI Português: Are you concerned about the threats that have been directed at journalists in Mozambique?
This concerns me greatly. When there was an attack on a journalist in Manica province, I made a point of reacting immediately and condemning it, because Mozambique is a democratic state governed by the rule of law that respects human rights.
Mozambique is a country of freedoms. It has press freedom enshrined in law and as a principle to be respected so that we can build Mozambique. Another very important aspect is that Mozambique defends freedom of expression.
For me, it is extremely important to work with the press, because the press not only communicates and informs but also shapes Mozambican society.
Therefore, threats against journalists are acts that must be strongly condemned so that we can build a country of freedom, which is the future we all need in order, together as Mozambicans, to develop the country.
Source: RFI
