The European Union Training Mission (EUTM-Mozambique), which is helping the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) fight Islamist terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, says that planned and adequate logistical support is essential to "ensure that operations continue without interruption".

According to a statement by EUTM-Mozambique, logistical support is essential for success, as it enhances the skills needed by the FADM for quick reaction force (QRF) operations.

"The transition to this new phase requires meticulous planning and robust logistics to ensure a smooth and effective transfer of responsibilities. Logistics will be essential during this period of change, ensuring that all necessary resources are available and that operations continue without interruption," the statement said.

"Logistics is the thankless art that no one remembers when everything is going well, but everyone notices when something goes wrong," the note adds.

The European Mission in Mozambique officially ends on September 9. The end of this mission follows the withdrawal, last July, of the Southern African Development Community Military Mission (SAMIM) in Mozambique.

Although SAMIM has left the country, the FADM is now supported bilaterally by Rwandan and Tanzanian forces.

According to the statement, "EUTM MOZ works in training camps in Dongo, Katembe and Mavalane. The J4 section of the mission is responsible for logistics and what the mission calls 'real life support'. This covers the provision and maintenance of all necessary resources, allowing the troops and their trainers to focus on training."

The J4 is made up of two teams - one in Maputo and the other in Chimoio, the capital of the central province of Manica.

The Maputo team, made up of five people, takes care of coordinating air and ground transportation, managing accommodation and rations, as well as overseeing infrastructure and procurement. This team is seen as essential to the planning and execution of logistics for the overall success of the mission.

"In Chimoio, a team of three ensures that accommodation, food, transportation and "general support" are all under control. In addition to a main transportation task to ensure that troops and supplies reach their destinations on time, the J4 section is responsible for vehicle maintenance, repair management and preventive maintenance in coordination with a rental company. Its portfolio also includes managing and supervising new construction of facilities for Quick Impact Projects (QIPs)," the document says.

"All these tasks are fundamental to maintaining the morale and operability of the soldiers and will gain added value in September, when the mission takes on the status of a military assistance mission," the note adds. (AIM)