Subject: Situation in northern Mozambique
Mozambique has found itself abandoned in the face of the wave of violent Islamic extremism in the north of the country. The relentless violence that has plagued the country for several years has been growing by the week, both in terms of frequency and barbarism. And with it, the humanitarian crisis has taken on catastrophic proportions.
The European Parliament has already condemned the violence and the worsening humanitarian situation, while the Union, the Member States and the international community seemingly sit back and watch.
We therefore ask:
1. How is the EU getting involved, or what initiatives is it taking, to help the Mozambican authorities tackle the problem?
2. What aid exactly has been made available to date?
3. To what extent has the EU sought to exert influence over regional organisations such as the African Union and the Southern African Development Community to encourage a common strategy to tackle what is increasingly becoming a threat to the region?
Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on behalf of the European Commission (6 January 2021)
The EU has repeatedly expressed its concern at the situation in northern Mozambique, as well as its solidarity with populations affected by violence and displacement. The High Representative/Vice-President condemned the violent attacks and expressed readiness to support Mozambique in addressing the security, humanitarian and development aspects of the crisis. He underlined the importance of conformity with international humanitarian law and human rights norms.
The EU is working on the ground with its humanitarian partners, allocating EUR 7.5 million to address the needs of conflict-affected populations in Northern Mozambique in 2020, and EUR 1.8 million for Disaster Preparedness. Broader multi-province interventions also benefit Northern Mozambique. To address the structural root causes of the armed violence, a four-year pilot project was launched in November 2020 to provide education and vocational training, employing 800 young people in the natural gas sector. Under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace two complementary actions support local social cohesion, promoting alternative narratives to prevent youth radicalisation and providing education in emergencies.
In September 2020, the EU opened a dialogue with Mozambique dedicated to the crisis; the possible use of all available EU instruments will be considered when discussing options for further support to Mozambique, regional and international partners. Appropriate further actions will be assessed during the programming of the new financial cycle.
Aligning EU efforts to African-led processes is essential to addressing a crisis whose drivers and impacts cross borders. The EU will continue consultations with the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and other international partners.