Personnel detached to EUMAM (the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique) logged 14 capacity building programmes involving over 450 FADM (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mozambique) personnel during the first half of 2025.
The EU assistance mission, which replaced an EU Training Mission (EUTM) last September, saw EU military personnel pass on skills related to civil-military co-operation (CIMIC), technical training, leadership, military pedagogy (approach to training), tactical driving and institutional advisory support to FADM General Staff. Key programmes to enhance logistical and operational sustainability of assets provided under the European Peace Facility (EPF) were also part of the wide-ranging EU initiatives.
In the first half of the current year, EUMAM developed CIMIC activities to reinforce social support for institutions and communities alongside the Mozambican military, directly impacting dozens of children and young people, the EU said in a statement.
Between January and June, the mission carried out solidarity initiatives in orphanages, schools, and support centres, in a joint effort to contribute to social and educational development of the local population.
Activities started on 23 January with an outreach event at the Association of Friends of Children Orphaned by AIDS (AACOSIDA) in Matola. School supplies, toys, books, clothes and footwear were donated to 89 children.
In March, EUMAM travelled to Katembe to donate food items to the Primary School of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Susa, which supports dozens of children from vulnerable communities. In April, to mark Mozambican Women’s Day, a solidarity initiative was held at the Hixikanwe Association in Maputo, including donations of food and a refrigerator, in recognition of the institution’s work supporting women and children affected by HIV and gender-based violence.
Also in April, on World Book Day, EUMAM — together with the crew of the Italian Navy ship ITS Luigi Rizzo — again showed its CIMIC side at Cumbeza Primary School in Marracuene, by way of donating books, toys and snacks to children at the school.
On International Children’s Day (1 June) the Mission visited the São Roque Mission Orphanage in Bela Vista, where recreational activities took place and meals were provided for 100 children. On 3 and 16 June, EUMAM returned to the Esperança Orphanage in Katembe, donating essential goods, including clothing, food and bedding.
The actions, according to an EUMAM statement, reflect ongoing commitment to supporting the most vulnerable communities and strengthening trust between military forces and Mozambican communities, within a broader context of promoting stability and security in the country.
EUMAM Mozambique is designed to support the FADM in building a robust and autonomous operational structure capable of regenerating, training, and deploying forces in full respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. The Mission’s mandate runs until June 2026.
Mozambique continues to battle with an insurgency in the north’s Cabo Delgado province. The Mozambique Times this week reported that an assault on the Catupa base in Macomia district resulted in heavy casualties among Mozambican soldiers on 28 June. The Islamic State released images showing at least 13 bodies of Mozambican soldiers killed during the fighting, though there were also significant losses among the jihadist fighters. Islamic State claimed to have killed 30 soldiers.
The clash came amid ongoing operations in the Catupa forest area of Quiterajo against Islamic State Mozambique by FADM and Rwandan forces. The Cabo Ligado project reported that the Macomia district of Cabo Delgado was the scene of “significant insurgent activity in the last two weeks.”
