Fight against terrorism in Mozambique draws international attention: US considers supplying non-lethal equipment

The US Africa Command (Africom), led by General Michael Langley, has announced the possibility of supplying non-lethal military equipment to Mozambique. The decision was prompted by the positive results the country has achieved in combating terrorism in Cabo Delgado province.

The American general met Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi in Maputo to discuss United States support for building operational capacity in the country, focused mainly on training and the supply of equipment. According to Langley, this assistance will probably begin with uniforms and will be non-lethal, depending on future negotiations.

Although the specific supply plan has not yet been established, the Africom commander highlighted the priority the US Government is giving to its partnership with Mozambique, seeking to increase local capacity, starting with training and progressing as far as possible.

In recent years, Africom has been developing support programmes for Mozambique's Armed Forces, which will continue.

Cabo Delgado province has been the scene of armed insurgency for almost six years. The military response since July 2021, with the support of Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), freed districts near the gas projects, but new attacks have also occurred in the region and in the neighbouring province of Nampula.

The conflict in northern Mozambique has resulted in around one million displaced people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and approximately 4,000 deaths, as recorded by the ACLED project.

The extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for a recent attack on the Kathupa base, in the interior of the district of Macomia, in Cabo Delgado. The authenticity of the attack has not been confirmed by the Mozambican authorities.

Welcoming his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, President Filipe Nyusi declared that Mozambique's Defence and Security Forces have dislodged the terrorists from all the districts they occupied in Cabo Delgado province, and combat efforts continue in collaboration with the SADC and Rwanda.

The news is of great interest to the Mozambican people, as it demonstrates international concern and support for the country in its arduous fight against terrorism.