The conflict raging in the province of Cape Delgadoin northern Mozambique, since 2017 it has barely occupied a place on world television channels. The West doesn’t seem to care more than 5,000 people died as a direct result of the war, nor that major energy companies are involved in the extraction of liquefied natural gas in the coastal area. But the truth is that they passed through Cabo Delgado Russian mercenaries and South Africans, Rwandan soldiers, different jihadist groups, and also, a European mission.
In 2021, the European Union launched a military training mission, known as EUTM, to train the Forces Asign Mozambicans to deal with the crisis in Cabo Delgado, where several jihadist groups operate. But in 2024, the Twenty-Seven agreed to transform it into an assistance mission (EUMAM) and thus also be able to carry out advisory and technical assistance tasks.
At the helm of this new mission is Brigadier General Luis Machado Barrosoborn in Portugal in 1967. With extensive experience on the African continent – he participated in operations in Sao Tome and Principe and Angola – General Barroso meets EL ESPAÑOL in Maputo to talk about the support that Europe is currently offering to Mozambique. He answers questions in Spanish, a language he learned during his training at CESEDEN.
First of all, the soldier maintains, it is necessary to explain the differences between one mission and another. “Generally speaking, the main objective of the EUTM was to equip, instruct and train eleven companies of the Immediate Reaction Forces. [IRF, por sus siglas en inglés], around 150 men and women intended to fight at Cabo Delgado. Today, our mission is a continuation of the EUTM which aims to ensure that the IRF is integrated into the Mozambican armed forces and is capable of regenerating the force; that is to say, giving rest and fueling the cycle of strengthening logistics and personnel,” he explains.
Faced with those who criticize Europe’s inability to adapt to structural changes of the African continent, the mission in Mozambique is current proof that there are processes of renewal. The EUTM was a success; He achieved his goals and his natural development led to EUMAM. It is expected that this last operational phase conclude in June 2026.
Another important change corresponds to the number of European troops (of Portuguese majority) stationed in the African country: if before they had surroundings 120 troops in Mozambique, their number has now been reduced to 83, although it must be taken into account that some of them boast a dual function. “We can consider that they really fulfill the function of 100 soldiers,” he says.
For a few minutes, Barroso gives details of the training given to the Mozambican armed forces. In the background you can hear the sweet songs of the swarming peacocks the gardens of the Cardoso Hotelwhere the headquarters of the European mission is located. However, the general specifies that the EUTM training “was aimed at troops, sergeants and officers, always seeking to develop their activities within the combat group, using collective tactics”, shooting training…in short, give them every possible tool to act on the battlefield. »
In this sense, he explains, the training includes “training in international humanitarian law or gender equality, which are very important aspects for the European Union. » This last aspect is important to say the least. The latest report on governance in Africa published by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation revealed that African countries in conflict that have renounced European collaboration over the past five years (with particular attention to Sahel nations) suffered serious deterioration in matters of human rights and freedom of citizens. The majority of these territories have opted for associations with states less involved in these matters, such as Russia.
Don’t just take up arms
In this sense, Barroso says he understands that the only way to achieve long-term peace initially requires the use of weapons – “this may be the case” – but that the relevant social aspects must also be developed to avoid future revenge dynamics which rekindles a conflict.
Al-Sunna wa Jama’a militiamen after storming Quissanga, the second largest town in Cabo Delgado, in February 2021.
This projection in the social field includes humanitarian programs, recurring in European missions throughout the world. More precisely, Barroso speaks with particular sympathy of the Royal Spanish Football Federationwho recently sent several dozen sets of sportswear to Mozambique to be delivered to an orphanage. The creation of a community kitchen in Katembe (near Maputo) and the development of a medical service serving the civilian population are other ongoing projects.
a relationship win-win
But if Mozambican troops learned from European troops, the opposite also happened. “In my experience, we learned to deal with guerrillas. And also to survive despite enormous difficulties on the battlefield, where logistical support or techniques related to command and control are very difficult.”
The Mozambican army fought for 30 years without interruption (the war of independence against Portugal and a bloody civil war that lasted 15 years). And that – contacting armies that have lived through thirty years of war and with a history linked to the anti-colonial struggle and the civil war – “is very enriching,” says Barroso. It’s a win-winbecause it is not only a question of transmitting, but also of receiving.
The shadow of terrorism
The insurgency in Cabo Delgado was started by young Muslims after joining the Islamic State of Central Africa (IS-CAP). According to the Mozambican authorities, this group responds more to economic interests linked to the country’s resources rather than to a religious question. “Here we find the typical model of insurgent groups like the Islamic State or the Taliban in Afghanistan, as in other theaters of operations,” he says. And recognizes that “It is normal for some fighters to receive a salary and that they fight for money rather than religious issues.
Por este motivo, sugiere Barroso, ahora hay muchos insurgentes que se rinden. Lo que no quita que esto siga siendo una parte de un todo mucho más complejo, porque “ya sabemos que las insurgencias no nacen de un día para otro”. De hecho, son los propios insurgentes los que están viendo muy reducidas sus capacidades de acción. “Hemos capturado a algunos que se han rendido que no tenían municiones, estaban muy mal uniformados y tenían hambre”, narra. Esto muestra que el entorno no es favorable con ellos y evidencia su fragmentación. Eso sí, aclara, “siguen siendo una amenaza”.
Los fiascos en el Sahel
La sombra de los fiascos en el Sahel planea sobre la conversación acerca de la misión europea en el continente africano. Nadie olvida que tanto la EUTM Mali como la EUMPM Níger concluyeron tras meses de incertidumbre como consecuencia de la ruptura entre Bruselas y las juntas militares que gobiernan ambos países tras varios golpes de Estado. Millones de euros invertidos e importantes proyectos dispuestos en la cooperación entre naciones para garantizar la seguridad de Europa desaparecieron de un plumazo.
“El problema en Mali no ha sido tanto la misión de la EUTM, donde España estaba muy involucrada, sino una cuestión del ámbito político. La evidencia, la punta del iceberg, lo que mejor se conoce, es que la Unión Europea tiene como principio no administrar armamento y municiones que puedan caer en manos de grupos insurgentes, y cuando los ejércitos lo necesitan, irán a buscarlo en otros países. Esto explica una parte del apoyo ruso en Mali cuando lo miramos desde el prisma de la EUTM y dejamos de lado el lado político”, matiza Barroso. Es importante entender las diferencias y similitudes en cada caso, pero en África no hay dos gotas de agua iguales y sería más adecuado hablar directamente de las diferencias que abarcan tan complejo asunto.
La pregunta que probablemente se repita un ciudadano europeo es la de por qué hay una misión europea en Mozambique. En realidad, se trata de un mandato no ejecutivo (es decir, que las tropas comunitarias no participan en los combates), por lo que no hay riesgo de que sufran bajas en acción. Ahora bien, el militar lo tiene claro: “Un ciudadano europeo que paga sus impuestos puede interpretar los focos de inestabilidad en varios países que no reciben respuesta como un mensaje de que vale la pena fomentar la insurgencia“.
Respaldado en su amplia experiencia, el comandante especifica que “lo que hemos visto es que la insurgencia suele ir dirigida contra los intereses económicos, geopolíticos y sociales de la mayoría de los países europeos. Por eso, si se realizan misiones europeas de entrenamiento y asesoría para combatir a grupos terroristas, esto es una buena señal para los contribuyentes europeos y una mala noticia para quien fomenta este tipo de organizaciones. Por eso es muy importante que haya gestos claros […]. “The more we respond to threats, the better.”
General Barroso fulfills his mission every day. Directs and improves European security, contributes to resolving relevant doubts that European citizens may have about the Cabo Delgado conflict. He is responsible for explaining how the dangers that threaten Europe They can also be 7,000 kilometers away from Madrid. And that doesn’t make them any less important.
