EUMAM Mozambique Advisory and Mentoring Groups provide training to local military personnel in air support to land forces

 Through practical Close Air Support exercises, Mozambican units of the army hone the application of various techniques to improve their combat efficiency

The Advisory and Mentoring Groups of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM MOZ) have supported members of the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces (FADM in Portuguese) in the development of several practical Close Air Support (CAS) exercises at the Military Training School of the Army in Manhiça, Maputo.

These exercises are part of the ‘Train the Trainers’ programme devoted to air defence tactics and, consequently, they have counted with the support of the Mozambique Air Force. More concretely, they consisted of a series of simulated activities that allowed the FADM to enhance the application of different techniques to ensure air support for ground operations, the effectiveness of which depends on the training of the military personnel who perform tactical air control.

The operational activities were coordinated by Spanish Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Pasquín Agero, Chief of the Training and Mentoring Group and the J7 Branch at EUMAM MOZ Headquarters, with the participation of Portuguese Air Force pilots.

With the development of such activities, EUMAM MOZ aims to achieve better integration of training capabilities within the organisational structures of the FADM. In this context, Spain’s permanent participation in this mission demonstrates its commitment to stability and security in Mozambique and also the international community.

EUMAM Mozambique

On 16 April 2024, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed that between June and September 2024, a gradual transition should be made from the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) in Mozambique —which began in 2021— to a model of assistance that combines advising, mentoring and specialised training in support of the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces' Rapid Reaction Force units. As a consequence, the mission was renamed as the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM Mozambique) and has a mandate until June 2026.

Nowadays, EUMAM not only faces the challenge of consolidating the achievements made by EUTM, but also new ones. Its main objective is to advise the FADM on the use of its Quick Reaction Forces (QRF). Parallelly, it must ensure that the units maintain their level of readiness together with the improvement of 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, guarantee effective coordination and continue to provide the necessary support to address insurgent threats. This change 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 fundamental pillar of the mission since its origins, contributing with military observers to EUTM Mozambique, which now continues under the EUMAM mandate. Therefore, Spain’s continuous participation in this mission, to which we contribute with the experience of our military personnel, demonstrates our commitment to stability and security in Mozambique and that of the entire international community.

This EU mission includes military personnel from 11 different nationalities, including the two Spanish elements.