The director-general of European Union (EU) Missions on Tuesday in Maputo expressed satisfaction with "progress" in the work of the EU Military Training Mission that prepares Mozambican forces to face terrorism in the north of the country.

"The work is going very well," Hervé Bléjean told the media after a meeting with the head of Mozambican diplomacy, Verónica Macamo, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Maputo.

The first EU military mission in Mozambique, dedicated to training troops to face the armed insurgency in Cabo Delgado, started on November 3rd, with an expected duration of two years, in response to a request for help from the Mozambican government.

In total, under the European Peace Facility, the Council of the European Union has provided a total of 89 million euros for training and capacity building for Mozambican troops.

For the director of EU Missions, quoted by Lusa, the support, reinforced in a decision announced on Thursday by Brussels, will be extremely important for the Mozambican forces, taking into account that it will guarantee important logistical aspects in their operations, with emphasis on individual protection equipment and means for their mobility.

"This support is to help the Armed Forces of Mozambique and is based on the EU Military Training Mission [EUTM] concept of training and equipping, which makes a lot of sense," Hergé Bléjean told Lusa.

The launch of the EU Military Training Mission was approved in October and, as early as November, the body approved assistance of about 44 million euros to support the Mozambican military units trained by the mission.

On Thursday, the Council of the European Union decided to increase assistance under the European Peace Facility by 45 million euros, bringing the total to 89 million euros.

The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance all Common Foreign and Security Policy actions in military and defense areas, with the aim of preventing conflicts, preserving peace, and strengthening international security and stability.

Hergé Bléjean also clarified that he is following the situation of the Total oil company, which suspended its activities in the gas exploration project in northern Mozambique in March, following the rebel attack on the Palma district.

"I have been in contact with Total and I have been holding meetings with security officials, within my competencies as a military officer, to study the conditions for the reestablishment of all company activities in the area. We are providing [security] assessments and guidelines for those who want to invest in the region. This is our limit of action," declared Hergé Bléjean.