European Commission High Representative Josep Borrell will visit Mozambique

EU Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell will begin a two-day visit to Mozambique today as part of a broader tour of Africa, which began in Kenya.

During the visit, Borrell will meet with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo Dlovo to discuss continued EU-Mozambique cooperation, specifically through the EU military training mission in Mozambique (EUTM).

Expect Borrell to pledge continued support for the EUTM, potentially offering expanded military aid to the Mozambican government, especially after French and Danish troops were forced out of Mali in recent weeks after relations with the ruling military junta soured, allowing Russian troops to establish a foothold on the continent.

This move would allow Mozambique to better combat an insurgency in the northern Cabo Delgado province. The insurgency—which sprang up in 2017 and has been a thorn in the side of the Mozambican government since—has forced the temporary shutdown of a $20 billion natural gas plant run by French petroleum giant Total and has seen more than 700,000 Mozambicans displaced. As such, expect more training personnel to be deployed in the coming months, with the possibility of special forces—likely from Portugal—to be deployed in assistive capacities.

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