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Vehicle parts destroyed after Islamist attacks in the coastal city of Palma
Photo: JOAO RELVAS / EPA-EFE
The EU is considering a military operation to support government troops in Mozambique: "We will try to send a training mission, like the one we have in the Sahel zone, to make the security situation in Mozambique manageable," said EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell at a meeting of the European Defense Ministers in Brussels.
This should be done in response to the growing influence of terrorists in the north of the Southeast African country.
The government asked the EU for help.
Islamist rebels have been carrying out brutal attacks in northern Mozambique since 2017.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 530,000 people were displaced in this way.
Use based on the example of the Sahel mission
Most recently, there had been multiple attacks on the coastal city of Palma, among other things.
In March, Islamist rebels attacked the city in the border region with Tanzania and took control of it after two days of fighting.
Civilians died and thousands fled.
The French energy company Total brought more than 1000 employees to safety in the region.
There he is involved in a liquid gas project worth almost 17 billion euros.
What exactly an EU mission in Mozambique could look like initially remained unclear.
Up to 1,077 soldiers are involved in the training mission for the Sahel zone (EUTM Mali), which Borrell named as a landmark.
Germany recently provided up to 450 soldiers.
From June 1st, there should be up to 600.
The aim of the mission in Mozambique is to support the armed forces in the region through advice and training so that they can effectively counter the threats posed by terrorist groups.
The mandate therefore does not include participation in combat missions.
ire / dpa