The President of Switzerland, Alain Berset, yesterday reaffirmed his commitment to supporting development projects in Mozambique, when he visited the town of Mueda, in the center of Cabo Delgado, a province that has been facing an armed insurgency for five years.

"I would like to confirm Switzerland's commitment to the country's development, particularly with regard to sustainable economic development for the entire population," said Alain Berset, standing next to the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi.

On the second of a three-day visit to the country, Berset landed in Mueda on a Mozambique Airlines (LAM) plane to be greeted by Nyusi, who was waiting for him for the inauguration ceremony of the Metical Square.

In addition to the square alluding to the Mozambican currency, one of the country's symbols, the venue includes leisure and sports spaces in a town that has escaped the fury of the armed conflict, which is raging a few dozen kilometers away, making Mueda a place of refuge for many displaced people.

Alain Berset walked around the village and visited one of the reception centers for inhabitants fleeing from rebel-hit areas.

"I feel truly honored to be in Mueda, a place with a lot of historical significance," he said, in a district that was the cradle of the struggle for Mozambican independence, quoted by Lusa.

"Switzerland is a friendly confederation, not just now," said Filipe Nyusi, noting that "it was also a friend of Mozambique at the time of the liberation struggle and even much earlier," through cooperation missions.

On Wednesday, in Maputo, Alain Berset announced a 123 million dollar program to create basic services such as water and electricity in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula over the next four years.

Alain Berset is the first Swiss president to travel to Mozambique, on a visit that ends on Friday.