The Mozambican Defense and Security Forces need to strengthen their structure with more lethal weaponry, according to the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, who asked, this Monday in Maputo, for more military support from the European Union (EU).

Speaking on the sidelines of the opening of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Nyusi acknowledged European assistance in combating terrorism in Cabo Delgado province.

The PR also called for the military support given to the joint force of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to include the Rwandan military forces in the combat zone, reports RTP.

On that occasion, ACP-EU co-chairman Carlos Zorrinho, MEP, did not guarantee military support to Mozambique and other combat forces on the ground because "supplying ordnance is not normally" in the EU support package.

"There are many ways to help and cooperate, without necessarily having to make that supply of weapons," he stressed, without, however, closing for complete of making an exception.

The EU announced in early September the allocation of 15 million euros for the SADC mission, including for field fortifications and storage containers, medical equipment, vehicles and boats, as well as technological devices.

This is in addition to an 89 million euro grant to the Mozambican armed forces to equip the units being trained by the EU mission in the country.