The President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique (FADM), Daniel Chapo, called for a profound transformation of the defense sector when he swore in yesterday the new Chief of General Staff, Army General Júlio dos Santos Jane.

In his speech, the Commander-in-Chief of the FADM defended structural reforms, the fight against undue privileges and a disciplined, technically prepared and moralized armed force.

"We want a moralized army, in which no member feels wronged," he said, warning that the FADM must be ready to respond effectively to threats to national sovereignty, including terrorism, transnational crimes and subversion of the constitutional order.

The now sworn-in Chief of General Staff is now at the top of the FADM's chain of command at a time that President Chapo called "critical", marked by "increasingly complex and diffuse threats".

Referring to terrorism, drug and human trafficking, cybercrime and illegal demonstrations, the statesman stressed that these threats "have been causing grief in families, destruction of infrastructure and tearing our economy apart".

The President of the Republic was adamant in demanding an army capable of responding with readiness, bravery and operational intelligence to today's challenges.

"Today, more than ever, the Armed Defense Forces of Mozambique are challenged to have a greater capacity to anticipate and respond to all kinds of threats to our national independence," he said, recalling the terrorist attacks that began in Mocímboa da Praia in 2017.

The government official pointed to internal flaws which, according to him, compromise the effectiveness of the armed forces. He criticized the existence of soldiers who rise through the ranks without proper training and others who, despite being qualified, "have never been in a trench, except during training". He considered this practice "completely absurd" and called for an immediate end to what he called "hot backs".

The Head of State also recommended a rigorous assessment of the physical condition of active military personnel, proposing the retirement of those who do not meet the conditions and the dismissal of those who receive salaries without performing their duties. "It is urgent to resolve this issue this year," he warned, insisting on the moralization of the ranks as an essential pillar for guaranteeing discipline, loyalty and obedience.

With regard to logistics, President Chapo was emphatic: "No troops win wars without logistics". He demanded greater attention to the supply of ammunition, food, fuel, communications and essential equipment.

He stressed that the sustainability of operations depends on logistical robustness, especially in scenarios like Cabo Delgado, where he classified the enemy as "cruel and changeable".

The statesman challenged the new Chief of Staff to deliver concrete results in the fight against terrorism, guaranteeing firm leadership and respect for the troops.

"The troops must know that they have a Chief who knows the theater of operations, who understands the dynamics of the conflict and who is respected," he said, stressing that the mission does not allow for improvisation.

At the end of his speech, the Commander-in-Chief called for cohesion between all branches of Defense and Security, rigor in recruiting new members and strengthening trust with the Mozambican people.

"The leadership of the FADM must be strong, fair and transformative. The people want peace, security and stability so that they can work freely and develop Mozambique," he concluded.