Maputo, Sept. 24, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambican president Daniel Chapo has called at the United Nations for «more predictable and coordinated international support» to put an end to terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, acknowledging that stabilisation in the region remains «incomplete».
«We are grateful for the solidarity we have received and call for more predictable and coordinated international support to consolidate security, stabilisation, reconstruction and development in the affected areas, where the Local [militia] Force continues to work to combat terrorism,» appealed the President.
The Head of State was addressing the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), where he stated that the country continues to make efforts to restore peace and stability in the province of Cabo Delgado, which has been the target of terrorist attacks, whilst praising international efforts to curb the conflict.
«In Cabo Delgado, we have made progress in combating terrorism and strengthening security. This is thanks to the efforts of our defence and security forces and the support of the SADC (Southern African Development Community), the European Union, Rwanda and Tanzania. However, stabilisation remains incomplete and requires a concerted response and greater international cooperation to combat terrorism,» he said.
Since 2017, the province of Cabo Delgado has been facing an armed insurgency that has already claimed more than 6,600 lives and displaced over 1.2 million people, with sporadic incursions into the neighbouring provinces of Niassa and Nampula recorded since 2025.
Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicate that the violence in Cabo Delgado resulted in 1,401 people being displaced in August and that incidents of conflict increased by 10% in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year.
Speaking at the UN, Chapo stated that Mozambique is a country rich in natural resources and is now committed to ensuring these are channelled into development for the population, particularly women and young people.
«Natural resources must contribute to the diversification of our economy, the mobilisation of revenue and investment in our greatest asset, which is the talent of the Mozambican people and the talent of the African people,» he said, adding that the country's strategic location, including easy access to the sea, enables the construction of transport and logistics infrastructure and allows it to play an important role in continental connectivity.
Speaking in front of other heads of state, Chapo advocated for an African continent that is «the architect of its own destiny», stating that it is time for its peoples to benefit from its resources.
«Africa faces, however, a paradox. It is rich in resources, yet retains little of the value these resources generate. Investment must therefore evolve from simple extraction to local processing and value creation, moving from transactions to partnerships, from dependence to capacity-building, and from the export of resources to the construction of national, regional and international value chains,» he said.
«In this context, regional and continental integration take on strategic importance by expanding markets, creating economies of scale, integrating production chains, attracting investment and stimulating innovation that can transform economic potential into concrete opportunities, particularly for its young population,» he added.
He pointed out that there are four years remaining until the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is due to be fulfilled, warning that developing countries continue to face high financing costs, rising debt and limited access to resources to invest in their own development.
«We continue to advocate for a fairer international financial architecture, with predictable and accessible financing for sustainable debt solutions. It is also necessary for access to concessional finance to take into account countries' vulnerabilities, beyond just income, and for developed countries to fully honour their commitments to development finance and climate action,» he pointed out.
As Mozambique is a country vulnerable to extreme weather events, Chapo called for mechanisms to be put in place to facilitate access to climate funds so that the country can cope.
PME/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
