The President of Mozambique called for support for countries that help fight terrorism

Mozambique’s president said this Wednesday that the support Mozambique is receiving in the fight against terrorism is an example of how Africa can solve its problems, but noted that the forces on the ground need funding.

“This pioneering experience of combining bilateral and multilateral intervention is also an example of African problems being solved, rather by Africans themselves. However, the question arises about the need for significant support for these countries that are directly and indirectly at war with us. terrorism in Mozambique to make current operations sustainable,” said Filipe Nyusi, speaking early Tuesday in New York at the 78th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In the province of Cabo Delgado, the Mozambique Armed Defense Forces have been fighting terrorism – attacks that have been occurring since October 2017 and which have driven the promotion of natural gas projects in the region – since July 2021, with the support of Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“We have made visible progress on the ground even as terrorists continue to spread terror and fear in isolated villages from time to time. With the improvement of order and tranquility, the population is returning en masse to their native places, resuming their lives as normal.” , he further admitted.

The Islamic State group said it executed 11 Christians last week in Mozambique’s Mocimboa da Praia region, Cabo Delgado province, but sources interviewed by Lusa said at least 12 were killed locally and several wounded. as a result of this attack. which happened on Friday in Nakitenge, a village in the interior of the area.

The conflict in northern Mozambique has already displaced one million people and nearly 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED Conflict Recording Project, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“The challenge now is to rebuild infrastructure and consolidate social cohesion,” Filipe Nyusi told the United Nations General Assembly, also asking for international support in the process.

The Mozambican head of state focused his speech on topics such as peace and security, counter-terrorism, climate change, energy transition, blue economy and environmental protection.

“My own country, Mozambique, has experienced cycles of armed conflict, sometimes fueled by forces alien to the national interest, but their resolution was only possible through constructive dialogue based on trust and mutual respect (…) In June this year, we closed the last base of Renamo, the party that remained armed, marking the end of the disarmament and demobilization phase. rights,” he also said, recalling the support of the UN and other partners in this process.

The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process, which began in 2018 and involves 5,221 former guerrillas of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Mozambique’s largest opposition party, of whom 257 are women, ended last June with the closure of Vunduzi Base, the last of Renamo. located in Gorongosa district, central Sofala province.

In his speech on Wednesday, Filipe Nyusi also recalled the consequences of climate change in Mozambique, especially the consequences of the three largest cyclones in recent years: “To date, we have not been able to repair even a third of the recorded damage.”

He also admitted that “support from partners was far below promises and needs.”

“In many cases where such support is available, partners choose to manage funds outside of government-agreed mechanisms, resulting in duplication of areas or programs with little impact on communities. As a result, a significant part of the funds is spent on trainings and/or conferences, bureaucratic issues, rather than direct support to the affected population, which once again means a lack of trust and solidarity,” he complained.

In this chapter, Filipe Nyusi argues that “the most polluting countries continue to produce emissions that cause global warming and climate change.”

“The enrichment of these countries comes at the expense of the misfortunes of those countries that contribute the least to pollution and which, coincidentally, are the poorest countries,” he noted.