The governments of Mozambique and Zambia pledged on Friday, 11 September, in Maputo, to intensify intelligence sharing and operational coordination between their respective defence and security forces in a joint effort to combat transnational crime and the terrorist threat.
"The 14th Session of the Mozambique-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security represents a sovereign opportunity for dialogue and interaction between our two countries," said Casimiro Augusto Mueio, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence, at the closing of the 14th Session of the Joint Permanent Defence and Security Commission (CCPDS).
According to Lusa, the meeting, held between 9 and 11 September in Maputo and chaired by the permanent secretaries of the defence ministries of both countries, identified illegal migration, smuggling, poaching, and drug and human trafficking as the principal common security threats.
These phenomena continue to affect the border zone between the two countries. The terrorist threat in several districts of Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, was also placed among the priorities of bilateral cooperation on defence and security.
As an outcome of the meeting, the two countries committed to stepping up intelligence sharing and operational coordination between their defence and security forces. Regular monitoring of the implementation of decisions taken is also planned over the following 12 months.
"Our concerns and sectoral interests were analysed, identifying sustainable and flexible approaches that lead to the overcoming of potential challenges in the consolidation of peace, security, and stability in the region," Casimiro Mueio stated.
On the economic front, the commission noted that both countries had maintained a positive trajectory despite the impact of geopolitical conflicts in Europe and instability in the Middle East on fuel prices and other production factors.
Mozambique and Zambia share a border of approximately 441 kilometres, stretching from the tripoint with Zimbabwe to the tripoint with Malawi.
Since 2017, Cabo Delgado has faced an armed insurgency that has claimed more than 6,600 lives and displaced over 1.2 million people. Since 2025, sporadic incursions have been recorded in the neighbouring provinces of Niassa and Nampula.
Zambia was part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), the regional force deployed between 2021 and 2024 to support counter-terrorism operations in Cabo Delgado alongside other countries in the region.
Bilateral security cooperation has continued following the end of that mission, in a context where Mozambique continues to face threats from armed groups in the north of the country.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/12/economia/desenvolvimento/mocambique-e-zambia-reforcam-cooperacao-contra-crime-transnacional-e-terrorismo/
