Peace-building and crisis response in Mozambique: Head of the Foreign Policy Instruments Service travelled to Maputo and Pemba

Director Peter M. Wagner, the Head of the Foreign Policy Instruments Service (FPI) of the European Commission, travelled to Maputo and Pemba (Cabo Delgado province) in Mozambique from 6 to 9 September 2022.

Peter M. Wagner visited the peacebuilding programmes supported by the EU in the region, and met with local community members, religious leaders, and local law enforcement representatives. He also met with partners of actions funded by the EU under the Crisis response pillar of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)-Global Europe.

Local partners are doing impressive work in creating social cohesion, preventing radicalisation, establishing trust between communities and law enforcement and laying the foundation for an eventual return and reintegration of children in armed conflict. Their dedication to carry out their work despite the precarious security situation in the region is commendable. The EU is committed to support their work and guide them to ensure safety of their colleagues on the ground.

The visit shed light on the volatile security situation in Mozambique and the catastrophic humanitarian impact of the on-going insurgency, which has already led to around 1 million internally displaced people. Peter M. Wagner met with the national and Cabo Delgado regional authorities working within the Attorney General’s Office and the National Prison Service to exchange on the security landscape and their plans to prevent and counter the insurgency.

An integrated approach of the EU and its partners, encompassing political and diplomatic, humanitarian, development, peacebuilding and security actions in the short, medium and long term is needed to respond to the crisis.

After his trip to Pemba, Peter M. Wagner joined the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Josep Borrell, for his visit to Mozambique. In addition to meetings with the President and ministers, the HR/VP also led the handover ceremony of European Peace Facility (EPF)-funded equipment to Mozambican troops trained by the EU Training Mission (EUTM). As part of the EU’s integrated approach, Mozambique is benefitting from a EUR 89 million package of EPF measures to strengthen the capacities of the Mozambican Armed Forces (MOZAF) to restore safety and security in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province. Thanks to this support the MOZAF is receiving key and essential military equipment such as vehicles and individual and collective equipment for soldiers. Prior to the ceremony, Peter M. Wagner co-chaired a meeting between EPF stakeholders to ensure full alignment of EU support with the MOZAF needs.