BRUSSELS, May 14. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The European Union agreed this Tuesday to extend its military operation in Mozambique until 2026 and transform it into an assistance mission, leaving behind a purely training format to also carry out advisory and technical support tasks.
The 27 have given the go-ahead to extend the mission until June 2026 and allocate 14 million euros as a budget for these two years. Launched in 2021, the European mission supports the response of the Mozambican armed forces to the crisis in the province of Cabo Delgado, scene of jihadist group activities.
In any case, the EU has agreed to readjust the mission that until now provided training to local forces so that it becomes a military assistance mission starting in September.
This step seeks to expand the objectives of the mission to move from pure training to an assistance model, which also combines advice and specialized training. The decision follows the line set by the European bloc in other missions to lighten its contingents abroad, with more advisory tasks and fewer personnel on the ground.
In any case, the European sources consulted explain to Europa Press that these changes in the format of the mission do not entail a reduction in the European presence in Mozambique. Until now, the mission had the leadership of Portugal and a total of 140 soldiers distributed in two training centers, one for commando training and the other for members of the Navy.
One of the main objectives of the mission was to support the development of capabilities of the units of the Mozambican armed forces with a view to forming a rapid reaction force to respond to jihadist terrorism.
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