Spanish military personnel lead the operational assessment of EUMAM Mozambique

• They have also implemented a new mentoring system to adapt training to the real demands of the insurgency in Cabo Delgado

Spanish military personnel deployed in the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM MOZ) have led the critical assessment of its progress, while promoting the reactivation of the training cycle for Mozambican elite forces to increase their operational effectiveness in combating the terrorist threat in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Lieutenant Colonel Bernardo González-Lázaro, who has assumed the position of acting Chief of Staff of the EUMAM mission, has led the development of the Operational Assessment, an analysis process to address the strategic review of the mission, whose current mandate ends in June 2026.

This project, which has been supported by all members of the headquarters, including Commander César Palomo in the logistics area, will serve as the basis for Brussels to decide on the extension and format of European support to effectively guarantee the objectives of regional peace and stability.

Regeneration of forces: a new tactical approach

Currently, EUMAM MOZ, the successor to the EUTM training mission that trained eleven Quick Reaction Forces (QRFs), focuses on sustainability and mentoring. Following an operational pause for reasons related to the internal situation in the country, the regeneration cycle for these QRFs has been resumed in 2026.

The mentoring team, led by Spain, has launched a new Train the Trainers course, which is essential for Mozambican military personnel to take on the training of new replacements. To this end, a new Mentoring Directive has been designed and implemented, with the aim of extracting lessons learned directly from the battlefield to update the techniques, tactics and procedures (TTPs) in use. The aim is to ensure that the QRFs are prepared to eradicate the jihadist insurgency.

Also in the area of training, headquarters has implemented an intensive internal training programme, that includes tactical combat casualty care (TCCC), to ensure that all European military personnel have the necessary medical knowledge to operate in high-risk environments.

Humanitarian commitment in response to flooding

To alleviate the consequences of the severe flooding that has affected the south of the country, EUMAM MOZ has provided technical and material support within its capabilities. It has also facilitated the arrival of EU aid, responding to the request from the Mozambican authorities.

The Spanish contingent has maintained close contact with several missions led by Spanish nuns, who have shown them the extent of the crop losses caused by the opening of dams and subsequent flooding. Despite the difficulties of moving around due to damaged infrastructure, the Spanish military has monitored the situation and provided advice to ensure the safety and well-being of the local population.

EUMAM Mozambique: shared security

On 16 April 2024, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed on the gradual transition of the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) Mozambique, which began in 2021, to a model that combines advice, mentoring and specialised training for the Rapid Reaction Force units of the Mozambican Armed Forces.

Currently, under the name European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM Mozambique), European military personnel, including two Spanish officers, continue to work to increase the capabilities of these units so that they can autonomously guarantee the security of the population, especially in the north of the country.