The political tensions in the country following the 9 October elections are causing concern in the international community, leading the United States and NATO to mobilise contingency plans in the face of a possible popular uprising in the country. The information came after US intelligence officers arrived in South Africa last week with the aim of coordinating strategies with the regional authorities, as reported by Military Africa.
According to official sources, the US agents landed at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on board a C-17 Globemaster aircraft, where they met with representatives of South Africa’s National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC).
NICOC includes elements from state security, defence, criminal intelligence and the financial intelligence centre. The main agenda of the meetings was to prepare for scenarios of instability in Mozambique, namely emergency relocations of foreign citizens and embassies.
At the same time, a British Air Force Airbus A400M was detected landing in Gaborone, Botswana, with indications of an emergency operational flight.
Reports from aviation sources indicate additional meetings at Lanseria Airport in South Africa, with the aim of ensuring logistical operations, such as fuelling, in the event of the temporary relocation of foreign citizens from Mozambique.
The UN and NATO are also involved in the contingency plans, monitoring the situation in Mozambique with increased attention. If necessary, operations will be coordinated from South Africa and Botswana, which act as strategic logistics centres in the region.
According to sources in the intelligence community, diplomats and other advanced teams are already working on alternative scenarios, anticipating the possible consequences of the Constitutional Council’s awaited verdict on the election results. The announcement, expected in the next few days, could exacerbate political tension in the country, which is already showing signs of popular unrest.
In recent years, the United States has maintained a supportive military presence in Mozambique, especially by training rapid response units in the Mozambican army.
This co-operation underlines the country’s geopolitical and strategic importance for international interests in the region, particularly in the context of the instability in Cabo Delgado and the recent episodes of post-election tension.
In addition, South Africa maintains a contingent of 1495 soldiers from the National Defence Force (SANDF) in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. The extension of the mission, authorised until December 2024, is part of SADC’s commitment(Southern African Development Community) to combating terrorism and violent extremism in the region.
The mobilisation of international resources and the increase in contingency measures reflect the growing global concern for Mozambique’s stability.
The possibility of popular unrest and a worsening political crisis has led the US, the UK and NATO allies to adopt a preventative stance, guaranteeing the necessary support to protect foreign citizens and ensure order in the region.
