Mozambique says Russia offered help against insurgency

Mozambique said Thursday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov offered Moscow’s support against the insurgency in the country’s northern Cabo Delgado province.

Mozambique’s presidency said the insurgency was discussed in talks between Lavrov and President Daniel Chapo. It quoted Lavrov as saying Russia was ready to help and respond to Mozambique’s requests for support in fighting what he called the “terrorist threat” in the north.

Mozambique is fighting an insurgency in Cabo Delgado linked to the Islamic State group. Attacks on civilians and security forces, including beheadings, have displaced thousands of people.

Cabo Delgado has large gas reserves and has attracted energy companies including TotalEnergies, ENI and ExxonMobil. Rwandan forces have been deployed in the area since 2021 to assist Mozambique’s army in an operation backed by millions of euros from the European Union.