Maputo, Sept. 1, 2025 (Lusa) - More than 500 Mozambican military personnel have been trained since 1 September 2024 by the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM-MOZ), it was announced on Monday, as part of its first year of activity.
In a statement, EUMAM-MOZ, which followed the training mission under the European Union's military partnership with Mozambique that began in 2021, said it had implemented 16 training programmes for Mozambican military personnel during its first year of activity, "in close collaboration" with the Mozambique Armed Defence Forces (FADM).
The activities involved more than 500 Mozambican military personnel. They were implemented "in an integrated approach" with programmes in areas such as command and control, logistics, training of trainers for Rapid Reaction Forces instructors, resupply and transport, leadership, military pedagogy, Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC), strategic communication and institutional advice to the FADM General Staff.
"At the same time, essential programmes were launched to ensure logistical sustainability of the resources made available under the European Peace Facility (EPF)," adds the statement from EUMAM-MOZ, a mission led by Portugal.
With 83 military personnel of 11 nationalities, EUMAM-MOZ is commanded by Brigadier General Luís Barroso, who highlighted "the contribution of all the members of the mission and the countries taking part", also emphasising "the importance of the work carried out together with the FADM, which has enabled 500 Mozambican military personnel to be trained".
Meanwhile, the Portuguese government proposed to the President of the Republic the appointment of Commodore César Manuel Pires Correia as commander of EUMAM-MOZ, "with effect from September 2025 to September 2026", according to a note from the Council of Ministers meeting held on 28 August.
The mission said in the communiqué that Mozambique's Chief of General Staff, General Júlio dos Santos Jane, in a message dedicated to the first anniversary, emphasised the "positive impact" of EUMAM-MOZ and asked for "motivation to continue serving with the same enthusiasm".
"Congratulations to EUMAM-MOZ and may we continue to work together for a future of peace and prosperity, free from terrorism and other threats to peace and progress," emphasised General Júlio dos Santos Jane.
EUMAM MOZ, whose current mandate runs until June 2026, is a non-executive mission that aims to assist the FADM in developing capabilities to ensure the implementation and sustainability of the operational employment cycle of the Rapid Reaction Forces, "with respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law", the mission recalls.
In 2024, the European Union announced the adaptation of the strategic objectives of the previous EU Military Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM-MOZ), which, on 1 September of the same year, switched from a training model to an assistance model and was thus renamed EUMAM-MOZ.
EUTM-MOZ, which, like the current EUMAM-MOZ, was led by Portugal, trained more than 1,700 Mozambican military commandos and marines in two years. These personnel went on to form 11 companies of Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) and are already fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado, as well as a hundred trainers.
The mission in Mozambique was also funded through the European Peace Facility to purchase all kinds of non-lethal equipment for these special forces companies.
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