The Japanese government, one of the main funders of development projects in Mozambique, said on Friday, 17 January, that it will continue to cooperate with the country, but called on the executive to quickly stabilise security and ‘dialogue’ between all parties.
‘Japan intends to continue its co-operation with Mozambique for the prosperity of the peoples of both countries, based on long-standing friendship,’ said a statement by the spokesperson for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kitamura Toshihiro, quoted in a statement released by the Japanese Embassy in Maputo.
‘We hope that the new government of Mozambique will guarantee a stable security situation as soon as possible and further promote democratic politics through dialogue between all interested parties,’ it added.
The process surrounding the 9 October general elections was marked by consecutive demonstrations called by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who does not recognise the results, which degenerated into violence, looting and destruction of public and private infrastructure, with more than 300 people killed and more than 600 shot.
In March last year, Japan guaranteed the availability of 55.1 million dollars for the implementation of projects in Mozambique, as part of the new international cooperation model defined by the Japanese government.
To implement them, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo, and the Japanese ambassador to Mozambique, Hamada Keiji, signed three donation agreements in the form of an ‘exchange of notes’.
‘The agreements establish the supply of vehicles to the Mozambican police forces to improve the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado, and will boost the development of the Nacala Power Station,’ said the Japanese diplomat at the time.