A document consulted by MZNews reveals that the foreign military presence in Cabo Delgado continues to grow, i.e., it is more than has been claimed in official speeches.

The source says that there are currently 24 countries with a military contingent in the lands of Cabo Delgado. The SADC mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has troops from 10 countries, mostly from South Africa. The EU training mission has personnel from 11 countries, though most are from Portugal. Rwanda has more than two thousand soldiers and police in Cabo Delgado. The US has a training mission. And Uganda has a presence.

"President Filipe Nyusi visited Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni on April 27-30. Museveni received military training from Frelimo in Cabo Delgado in 1976-8, which led to the overthrow of Idi Amin in 1979. Close ties with Frelimo continued, and Museveni said he had already supported the Mozambican military in the Cabo Delgado war and proposed deploying a large Ugandan force there. President Nyusi said that part of the support would go to local militia forces," the document writes.

However, on that visit, Museveni said that relations with Mozambique remained in the realm of industrial development. But analysts in Mozambique suggested that that visit kept military matters hidden.

"In fact, in the meeting held with his counterpart Yoweri Museveni, Filipe Nyusi stressed that Uganda is already supporting Mozambique logistically and in a very profound way," reads a VOA article Portuguese.

The President said at the time that he would only send troops to Mozambique if the situation justified it, as he had already done in other parts of the continent.

The European Union (EU) is considering spending up to $21 million to support the Rwandan counter-insurgency mission in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. The plan is detailed in a "concept note" and provides for "non-lethal aid" such as vehicles and logistical equipment. Funding would be provided through the European Peace Facility, the document concludes.