The EU Training and Mentoring Group in Mozambique Provides Tutoring and Advice to the Country's Armed Forces

• Since the beginning of this European mission in 2021, Spain has contributed two military observers integrated in the Headquarters located in the capital, Maputo

The Training and Mentoring Group delivers two key programs within the framework of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM MOZ), which has resumed its activities after a prolonged period of national instability following the recent presidential elections. This is all coordinated from the mission’s Headquarters, where two Spanish observer officers are deployed.

This Training and Mentoring Group is a unit composed of officers and non-commissioned officers with a wide range of specialisations, prepared to conduct activities, both mentoring and specialised training, through a ‘Train the Trainers’ approach to ensure that, in the future, the Mozambican military forces can take responsibility for their own training autonomously.

Regarding training, on one hand, the EUMAM MOZ personnel are currently delivering the Administrative and Command Element (ACE) course, which brings together a selection of national army officers to enhance their professional and personal capacities. This training focuses on key areas such as human resource management, logistics, planning, instruction and training, alongside essential transversal topics like civil-military cooperation, gender perspective, and International Humanitarian Law, among other subjects.

The ACE course is directly overseen by the Chief of Staff of the Mozambican Army, with the aim of supporting the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces in the development of capacities and training of future leaders responsible for the regeneration, formation, maintenance and operational employment of the Quick Reaction Forces (QRF) and Tactical Air Control Teams, which were previously trained by the European mission in Mozambique for their deployment in the fight against insurgency in the Cabo Delgado province.

Military Training Pedagogy Course

On the other hand, a pedagogical methodology programme recently concluded at the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces (FADM) Army Application School. This activity specifically aimed to strengthen the pedagogical skills of 39 officers, sergeants, and soldiers in charge of instructing FADM personnel.

Over the three-week duration of this course, the students also received specialised training in engineering operations, urban warfare, and physical training. As a result of this course, the Mozambican instructors are now prepared to independently plan, execute, and oversee future training within their national army.

EUMAM Mozambique

On 16^th April 2024, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed that between June and September 2024, there should be a gradual transition of the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) Mozambique – which began in 2021 – towards an assistance model combining advisory, mentoring, and specialised training to support the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces’ Quick Reaction Force units. Consequently, the mission was renamed the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM Mozambique).

Currently, EUMAM faces the challenge of consolidating the achievements made by EUTM, while also addressing new challenges. Its primary objective is to advise the FADM on the deployment of their most operational forces: the Quick Reaction Forces. At the same time, it must ensure that the units not only maintain their level of readiness but also enhance their operational capacity in complex scenarios, always within the framework of International Humanitarian Law. Thus, EUMAM seeks to better integrate training capabilities within the organisational structures of the FADM, ensure effective coordination, and continue providing the necessary support to address insurgent threats. This shift also includes the redistribution of resources and the updating of training plans to align with the current needs of the national security environment.

In this context of cooperation, Spain has been a key pillar of the mission since its inception, contributing military observers to the EUTM Mozambique, which now continues under the EUMAM mandate. The ongoing participation of Spain in this mission, through the experience and expertise of its military personnel, demonstrates a commitment to the stability and security of Mozambique, which – since 2017 – has been suffering from jihadist terrorism attacks in the northern region of the country, a threat to the entire international community.