Reuters, Johannesburg :
Mozambique has asked the European Union for support in tackling a wave of militant attacks in the country’s north by rebels with links to Islamic State, a conflict that has raised fears for stability and security in southern Africa.
The Islamist attacks in Cabo Delgado province date to 2017 but the violence has gathered pace this year, with insurgents seizing important towns for brief periods and hitting military and other key targets.
The Portuguese news agency Lusa said on Tuesday Mozambique had written to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to ask for help in training its armed forces to battle the insurgency.
In the letter, Mozambique – which is a former Portuguese colony – also requested medical equipment and humanitarian assistance to help victims of the conflict, according to Lusa.
A EU spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday the bloc had received a letter from Mozambique’s foreign ministry and said, without providing further details, a reply would be “prepared and sent in due time”.
