The European Union (EU) has announced the transformation of its training mission in Mozambique into a military assistance mission, marking a significant change in the approach to supporting Mozambique’s Armed Defence Forces (FADM), the Club of Mozambique reported.
The new mission, called EUMAM Mozambique (EU Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique), aims to guarantee the self-sufficiency of the Mozambican forces by June 2026, in line with the European bloc’s commitment to promote a more secure and stable environment in the province of Cabo Delgado.
During its three years and two months of operation, the previous European Union Training Mission (EUTM Mozambique) trained more than 1,700 FADM soldiers in various areas, from commando operations and marines to tactical air control.
This endeavour involved a rotation of instructors from 14 countries, including Portugal, Greece, Italy, Finland, Romania, Spain, Belgium, Lithuania, Austria and Estonia. To ensure the continuity of the lessons learnt, more than 100 Mozambican instructors were trained, allowing the techniques acquired in the field to be replicated.
With the new EUMAM mission, the EU will move from a training model to a mentoring approach, which, according to an EU spokesperson, will allow the 1,700 trained soldiers to achieve greater operational self-sufficiency.
The mission, now permanently established in Maputo, will not have an executive mandate, which means it will not be involved in direct military operations. EUMAM Mozambique could be deployed to Pemba, in Cabo Delgado province, with the aim of coordinating activities and providing specialised training, but without taking part in armed operations with Mozambican forces.
‘With the new EUMAM mission, the EU will move from a training model to a mentoring focus, which, according to an EU spokesperson, will allow the 1,700 trained soldiers to achieve greater operational self-sufficiency’
The military assistance mission currently has a force of 83 from 11 EU member states – including Portugal, Italy, Spain, Romania, Lithuania, Belgium, Austria, Finland, Estonia, Greece and France – as well as Serbia, a country that is not part of the European bloc.
This number represents a significant reduction on the 161-strong contingent that made up the previous training mission.
Last week’s change of command marked the arrival of Portuguese Brigadier General Luís Barroso as the force’s new commander, replacing Major General João Gonçalves, also from Portugal. In his inauguration speech, Barroso reinforced the EU’s commitment to supporting Mozambique in building the capacity of its forces, with a view to guaranteeing a secure and stable environment in the north of the country.
The decision to transform the mission reflects the evolution of needs on the ground and the recognition of the importance of a more targeted approach to the self-sufficiency of local forces. The new phase of the mission comes in the context of ongoing international efforts to stabilise Cabo Delgado, where armed insurgency continues to pose a threat to regional security.
According to the source, with the transformation of the mission, the European Union is reaffirming its commitment to Mozambique, adapting its strategies to better support the strengthening of national military capabilities and the creation of a safer and more secure environment for the population of Cabo Delgado.
