The Minister of National Defence, Cristóvão Chume, assures that Mozambique will defeat terrorism, “whatever the cost”.
Chume was responding to one of the questions posed by Renamo, the opposition party in Mozambique, regarding the war against terrorism in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.
Chume said that Renamo recognises the efforts of the Defence and Security Forces, even if the political grouping does so somewhat timidly.
“Even if it is timid, Renamo recognises the importance of the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) in the defence of the country and in the fight against terrorism,” said the Minister, speaking today in the Assembly of the Republic, the parliament, on the second and final day of the session of questions to the government.
During the two days, Renamo MPs pressurised the government to accept that the end of the mandate of the SADC Military Mission, SAMIM, which helps fight terrorism in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, “is a sign of rupture.”
“To be patriotic is not to take sides on aspects of national interest such as national defence,” said the minister.
He reiterated that the allied forces that act in an integrated and bilateral manner have their military devices shared with the DSF.
“There is no friendly force that is taking isolated or independent initiatives on the ground,” he said.
“We will continue to invest, not only in the logistics of the Armed Defence Forces of Mozambique, but also in other defence capabilities such as military health, training and infrastructure,” he added.
According to Chume, the government has already made it known to the public on several occasions that a large part of the military effort deployed to Mozambique is sustained, in the first instance, by the respective governments supported by partners interested in combating international terrorism.
SAMIM has been in Cabo Delgado since 2021 for an intervention mission, but has been renewed twice in the space of two years.
AIM