As part of a tour of East Africa, which began on Thursday 8 September in Mozambique, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, welcomed, Thursday evening, a “very important visit” to this African partner country with which the EU wants to deepen its close cooperation in a new geopolitical context that is “very difficult and complex” at the international level, following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine (see EUROPE 13011/4) .
“The commitment and solidarity in the fight against terrorism will continue”, Mr Borrell said, speaking to the Mozambican press in the wake of the terrorist attack that killed six people in Nampula province. He announced to the President, Filipe Nyusi, and to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Verónica Macamo Dlhovo, the €15 million in EU support for the Southern African Development Community mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), which had been approved the previous day by the EU27 ambassadors to the EU (see EUROPE 13017/32).
In addition to its support for military training and equipment - 600 soldiers have already been trained in Capo Delgado - the EU will also continue its development cooperation focused on education, access to water, sanitation, energy and the fight against climate change, stressed Mr Borrell, recalling that “Mozambique is one of the largest recipients of EU support”.
When asked by a Mozambican journalist if the EU was planning to buy gas from Mozambique, Mr Borrell said he was pleased that “in a few days the first ship carrying 175,000 tonnes of gas will leave Cabo Delgado for Europe”, and that it was in the country’s interest to exploit Mozambique’s huge gas deposits at a time of soaring prices.
“We hope that the conditions for peace and progress can be met to allow the exploitation of these riches for the benefit of the Mozambican people”, he said, adding: “You will be the first to benefit, because you will have jobs and you will have income for your budget”.
Mr Borrell also expressed the EU’s willingness to deepen the partnership with Mozambique, “a reliable partner”, to “defend multilateralism and the rules-based international order” as well as regional and global stability. He said he congratulated President Nyusi on the election of Mozambique as a member of the UN Security Council.
Asked to comment on Mozambique’s neutrality on the war in Ukraine, the High Representative replied: “Mozambique is not on the side of the aggressor.”.
The High Representative will continue his tour of East Africa this weekend to deepen ties and the partnership with Africa.
In Kenya (Saturday 10 September), he will meet the new President, William Ruto, before travelling to Somalia (Sunday 11 September) to meet the President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)