As of today, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) and the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) are holding a meeting to improve coordination in the face of the country's main security challenges, including kidnappings and terrorism.

"This initiative is part of the development of actions to improve coordination between the two bodies, especially in the field of investigation and preparatory investigation of criminal cases," says a statement from the PGR.

The three-day meeting will discuss the main security challenges in the country, with an emphasis on terrorism, which is affecting northern Mozambique, and kidnappings, which have been taking place in the main provincial capitals since 2020.

"Among the items on the agenda, we highlight the analysis and reflection on the actions carried out by the two institutions since the VII National Meeting and the mechanisms that should be implemented to prevent and combat organized crime, especially money laundering, terrorist financing and kidnapping," adds the PGR note, adding that the meeting will serve to draw up Sernic's strategic plan for the next five years.

After a period of relative calm, Mozambican cities, especially the country's capital, have once again been plagued since 2020 by a wave of kidnappings, mainly targeting businessmen or their families.

Cabo Delgado province has been facing an armed insurgency promoted by rebels for five years, with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.

The conflict has already displaced a million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and caused around 4,000 deaths, according to the ACLED conflict registration project. (Sapo)