The European Council has approved the establishment of a European Union Military Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM Mozambique).According to a statement by the council, the mission will provide training and capacity building to “support a more efficient and effective response by the Mozambican armed forces to the crisis in the Cabo Delgado prov ince”.The decision was the EU response to the Mozambican authorities' request for increased EU engagement in the areas of peace and security.President Filipe Nyusi has welcomed the deployment of an EU military training non-executive Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mission in the country, according to the statement.EUTM MOZ will take over from a Portuguese armed forces training project, and is expected to reach its full operational capability by mid-December 2021.It will consist of around 140 military personnel divided between two training centres – one for commando training and the other for marines.The costs for EUTM Mozambique, to be covered via the European Peace Facility, are estimated at €15.16 million (R258m) for a period of two years.A further €4 m (R68m) has been approved to complement the training of military units, with the provision of non-lethal individual and collective equipment.Over the budgeted two years of training, the strategic objective is to support the capacity building of the units of the Mozambican armed forces that will be part of a future Quick Reaction Force.In particular, the mission will provide military training, including operational preparation, specialised training on counter-terrorism, and training and education on the protection of civilians – especially women and girls in conf lict – and provide compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law, according to the statement.The European instructors will not engage in military operations.“EUTM MOZ will contribute to the EU's integrated approach to Cabo Delgado, together with peacebuilding, conflict prevention and dialogue support, humanitarian assistance and development cooperation, as well as the promotion of the women, peace and security agenda,” according to the statement.
