Spain relieves its military observers in the EUMAM mission in Mozambique

• During the six months of deployment, his work has been decisive in laying the foundations for this new phase of military assistance, reinforcing the prestige of the Spanish Armed Forces.

The two Spanish observers deployed to the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM MOZ), Lieutenant Colonels Fernando Pasquín Agero and José Luis Rodríguez Santisteban, have handed over their duties at the mission's headquarters in the capital Maputo.

During his six-month mission, his work has been decisive in laying the foundations for this new phase of military assistance, marked by the transition to high-level advisory services. His performance has reinforced the prestige of the Spanish Armed Forces as a reliable and effective partner within the European Union.

From now on, Lieutenant Colonel Bernardo González-Lázaro Sueiras and Major César Palomo Bernardos will join the command structure to continue the national commitment to stability in the region. These two new officers are taking up the baton at a decisive moment for the mission. Their handover ensures continuity in the support provided to the Mozambican Armed Defence Forces (FADM) in their fight against jihadist terrorism, which is ravaging the population of Cabo Delgado province.

At EUMAM Mozambique, Lieutenant Colonel González-Lázaro assumes command of the Training and Mentoring Group (TMG), which focuses on supervising the training of local military personnel and implementing the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) regeneration cycle. This is a vital process for sustaining the operational readiness of units returning from the area of operations.

For his part, Major Palomo will head the logistics section within the Advisory Group to support the development of sustainable logistics capabilities at the operational and strategic levels, with the fundamental objective of providing autonomy to Mozambican units.

EUMAM Mozambique: Spain's commitment

On 16 April 2024, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed that, between June and September of that year, a gradual transition should take place from the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) Mozambique, which began in 2021, to a model of assistance combining advice, mentoring and specialised training in support of the Mozambican Armed Forces' Rapid Reaction Force units. The mission was therefore renamed the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM Mozambique).

Currently, under the mission slogan ‘We Are Together’, EUMAM faces the challenge of consolidating the achievements made by EUTM, but also faces new challenges, among them, advising the FADM on the use of its Quick Reaction Forces (QRF). At the same time, it must ensure that the units not only maintain their level of preparedness, but also improve their operational capacity in complex scenarios, always within the framework of international humanitarian law.

In this way, EUMAM seeks to better integrate training capabilities within the organisational structures of the FADM, ensure 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 inception, contributing military observers to EUTM Mozambique, which now continues under the EUMAM mandate. Spain's continued participation in this mission, to which we contribute the experience of our military personnel, demonstrates our commitment to stability and security in Mozambique and throughout the international community