The Portuguese government has authorized, through a resolution published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, a donation of up to 40 million euros to support the European Union's Military Training Mission in Mozambique.

Clubofmozamique writes that the Portuguese government has decided to "authorize the expenses related to the contract to be signed with the European Union [EU] for the implementation of the assistance measure, under the European Peace Facility, to support military units trained by the European Union Military Training Mission in Mozambique."

This assistance measure will last for 30 months, from the date of the contract between the European Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, involving, during the first 12 months, European funding to the amount of 40 million euros.

The European Union, "aware of the vulnerabilities to which this population is subject and in order to prevent contagion to other provinces as well as neighboring countries, has adopted, in the framework of the European Peace Facility," the creation of "a ", explains the resolution.

The objective of the European Union Military Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM Mozambique) is to support the training of units of the Mozambican Armed Forces to constitute a future rapid reaction force, so that these units develop the necessary and sustainable capabilities to restore security in Cabo Delgado, according to the document approving the budget.

Normally, the European Commission chooses non-governmental organizations for the implementation and execution of this type of project.

However, in the specific case of Cabo Delgado province, the European Commission "recognizing the added value of having Portugal directly involved in this project, due to the good relations between the two countries, both for the privileged knowledge of the terrain and for the proximity of the language, chose to have Portugal, through the Ministry of National Defense, as a partner," the resolution stresses.

Cabo Delgado province is rich in natural gas, but, terrorized since 2017, by armed rebels, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The conflict has caused more than 3,100 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project, and more than 859,000 displaced people, according to the Mozambican authorities.