Portugal has expressed support for extending the mandate of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM-MOZ) and called for strengthened capabilities to be made available to the Mozambican Armed Forces, as the current mandate is set to expire on 31 December.
The position was put forward by Portugal’s Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo, during a change-of-command ceremony for the European mission held in Maputo.
According to the minister, Portugal aims not only to back the mandate’s renewal but also to contribute to reinforcing the capabilities made available to the Mozambican state, in line with needs identified by the national authorities. Nuno Melo argued that the mission’s continuation is justified by the results achieved in supporting the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces, particularly in counter-terrorism operations in the north of the country.
EUMAM-MOZ supports the training and assistance of Mozambican forces engaged in operations against armed groups active in Cabo Delgado.
The minister also underscored Mozambique’s strategic importance to the European Union, advocating for the country’s continued inclusion among the bloc’s security and cooperation priorities. This week, the mission passed to the command of Brigadier-General Sérgio Estrela of the Portuguese Air Force, who succeeds Commodore César Pires Correia of the Portuguese Navy.
EUMAM-MOZ currently comprises 83 military personnel from 12 nationalities and remains under Portuguese leadership. In May, the Council of the European Union extended the mandate by a further six months, to 31 December 2026.
Mozambique, however, is seeking an extension of at least two additional years. In July, President Daniel Chapo stated that the government was in negotiations to secure the continuation of European assistance, describing it as important for strengthening the country’s military capabilities.
The current mission emerged from the transformation of the former EU Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM-MOZ), which transitioned in September 2024 from a training-centred model to a military assistance format. During the preceding phase, the European Union supported the training of more than 2,000 Mozambican military personnel, including commandos and marines, who were subsequently integrated into 11 companies of the Rapid Reaction Forces now engaged in counter-terrorism operations.
European cooperation has also included funding through the European Peace Facility for the acquisition of non-lethal equipment for Mozambican Armed Forces units. Cabo Delgado has faced terrorist attacks since 2017, in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced more than one million people, according to international organisations.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/15/desenvolvimento-2/portugal-apoia-extensao-da-missao-militar-europeia-em-mocambique/
