The Mozambican government and the European Union (EU) yesterday reaffirmed their commitment "to a deep partnership", highlighting "the strengthening of political dialogue, taking into account Mozambique's position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council".

The rotating position will be filled as of January 1, for a two-year term.

The position was expressed after the 32nd Political Dialogue that brought together the delegations in Maputo, led by Mozambique's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo, and the EU ambassador, Antonino Maggiore.

In the end, the commitments included "deepening the partnership in the economic dimension, taking advantage of the opportunities of the Global Gateway and preparing the Mozambique-European Union Business Forum, scheduled for 2023," reads the joint statement.

The political dialogue also served to underline "support for democratic consolidation in Mozambique in the context of the next electoral cycle and the need to materialize the recommendations left by the EU Electoral Observation Mission after the 2019 elections", with "respect for civic space".

The two delegations also agreed on "greater action in the gender and youth sectors, in line with the priorities of the EU's Multi-Annual Cooperation Program in Mozambique", along with "an integrated EU approach in Cabo Delgado and the north of the country (humanitarian assistance, security and peace-building and development)".

On Thursday, the European Council announced support of 20 million euros for the Rwandan Defense Forces in Cabo Delgado province, which are fighting armed insurgency in the province alongside Mozambican troops.

The decision was the focus of the meeting, which "welcomed the work of the EU Military Training Mission (EUTM Mozambique) and also the assistance to the country in the context of the European Peace Facility, of which Mozambique is the largest beneficiary in Africa".

Yesterday's Political Dialogue session followed another held in June.

Mozambique and the EU recognized "the seriousness of the war in Ukraine and its global consequences and agreed on the need to respect the rules-based international order under the UN Charter."