Maputo, May 29, 2026 (Lusa) – Belgian MEP, Hilde Vautmans, stated on Friday in Maputo that she will advocate for a two-year extension of the European Union's military training mission in Mozambique, which concludes at the end of 2026.
"I, personally, defend it. I cannot speak on behalf of the committee, because we have to discuss the results. If we want a country to improve, we need an integrated approach," said Vautmans, spokesperson for the European Parliament Committee on Development delegation.
Four MEPs from this committee have been in Mozambique since Tuesday to assess the impact of EU support. Their itinerary includes visits to Cabo Delgado, a northern province affected by terrorism.
MEPs representing this committee visited the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM-MOZ) in Maputo on Friday. The initiative, led by Portugal, supports the training of military personnel fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado. Vautmans, who also chairs the Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly, revealed that new financial support for equipment could be considered under the European Peace Facility, though a final decision still rests with member states.
An earlier mission under the same mechanism funded the purchase of non-lethal equipment and provided logistical support worth €89 million to equip 11 Quick Reaction Companies (QRF) of the Mozambican Armed Forces, trained under the EU Military Training Mission (EUTM-MOZ).
"I think the commander convinced us that they need two more years and then a one-year exit strategy for EUMAM. I don't know if we will convince the member states, because that is also a decision for them, but I think the mission convinced this delegation that it would be good to expand EUMAM-MOZ because Mozambicans trust Europe," she said, highlighting the "excellent work" of the European military.
The Council of the EU extended the mission's mandate this month by an additional six months, until 31 December 2026.
A statement from EUMAM-MOZ on 14 May said that the extension stems from the need to continue developing capacity-building programmes for the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM). These programmes "focus on the QRF, their operational cycle, logistics, and maintenance, aiming to contribute to their sustainability and self-sufficiency."
"I saw two of my compatriots working here. Incredible what they told me. So, yes, I think this could already be one of the recommendations of this mission," Vautmans said.
EUMAM-MOZ operates as a non-executive mission assisting the FADM in developing and strengthening capabilities. This ensures that Mozambican forces implement and sustain the operational employment cycle of previously trained QRFs.
The EU announced the adaptation of the strategic objectives of the previous EU Military Training Mission (EUTM-MOZ) in 2024. The initiative transitioned from a training model to an assistance model on 1 September of that year, rebranding as EUMAM-MOZ.
Portugal led EUTM-MOZ and the current EUMAM-MOZ. Over two years, the initial mission trained more than 1,700 Mozambican commandos and marines, who now form 11 QRF companies fighting terrorism in Cabo Delgado, alongside approximately 100 trainers.
Cabo Delgado has faced an armed insurgency associated with extremist groups linked to Islamic State since October 2017. The conflict has caused approximately 6,500 deaths and displaced thousands of people, according to data from international organisations.
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