Mozambique’s Foreign Minister, Maria Manuela Lucas, voiced deep concern about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine while commending the resilience of the Russian people. She noted that Mozambique has been monitoring the situation closely and expressed her country’s strong desire for a peaceful resolution.
Lucas also highlighted the war’s detrimental effects on food security across Africa. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a recent address that another round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is scheduled for Wednesday. The Mozambican minister expressed hope that these talks would lead to positive outcomes.
During her visit to Moscow, Lucas met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to supporting Mozambique’s defense needs. Lavrov stated, “We stand ready to respond to all requests from our Mozambican partners to bolster their defense capabilities and counter-terrorism efforts.” He pointed out that such threats persist in Mozambique and other African nations.
Over recent years, Russia and Mozambique have strengthened their military ties. In 2019, Mozambique enlisted Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group to combat a jihadist insurgency. Additionally, a 2020 report from German intelligence revealed Russian plans to establish a military base in Mozambique.
