Maputo, July 10, 2026 (Lusa) - Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said in Maputo on Thursday that Russia was willing to help Mozambique “eliminate” terrorism in Cabo Delgado.
“We continue to support the efforts of [the president of Mozambique], Chapo, to stabilise the situation in the north, eliminate the terrorist threat and consolidate Mozambique’s true sovereignty. We are providing support, notably through the training of personnel and the supply of the necessary weapons and equipment,” said Lavrov, speaking to journalists after meeting with Mozambique’s minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Maria dos Santos Lucas.
At the meeting with the head of Mozambican diplomacy, following his meeting with President Daniel Chapo, the Russian minister reaffirmed Russia’s willingness to provide support in addressing the insurgency that has affected the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado since 2017, involving elements associated with Islamic State and attacks that have claimed more than 6,600 lives and displaced 1.1 million people.
“Both during the meeting with the president a few hours ago and during the lengthy negotiations that have just concluded, we devoted most of our attention to discussing concrete ways of strengthening, developing and expanding our strategic partnership, based on a solid foundation of solidarity and mutual assistance forged during the struggle against colonialism,” Lavrov noted.
According to the Russian foreign minister, who has visited several African capitals in recent days, the delegations from the two governments discussed “in detail the prospects for the development and modernisation” of “trade, economic and investment relations”.
“We agreed that each party will draw up documents setting out its vision for specific projects, which we will analyse during the preparations for the next session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, to be held this autumn,” Lavrov said.
The minister also emphasised the importance of the support Russia has been providing for the training of Mozambican professionals, acknowledged a willingness to increase the number of scholarships, and confirmed that President Daniel Chapo will attend the third Russia–Africa summit, scheduled for 28 and 29 October 2026 in Moscow.
“We have reviewed our bilateral cooperation in various areas where Russia has been supporting us. We have identified some areas that we will consolidate when we hold the joint committee meeting, which is likely to take place in September,” said Mozambique’s foreign minister at the end of the meeting.
The aim, said Lucas, is to “consolidate” Russian support for economic sectors that are priorities for Mozambique.
“Russia is willing to work with us in these areas. We are talking about energy, agriculture, digitalisation, transport and logistics, and mineral resources. And also support the fight against terrorism,” she concluded.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
