Brussels: The European Union will form a military training mission in Mozambique to help the government overcome the growing Islamic rebellion and to protect civilians, block words on Monday.
Mozambique, who has asked for EU assistance, has grappled with a rebellion in the northernmost province of Cabo Delgado since 2017.
Violence has grown significantly in the past year.
EU foreign ministers took official decisions at the meeting in Brussels on Monday even though it was not clear which country would give the necessary troops.
“The mandate of the mission will initially last two years,” the European Council, representing members of the EU member, said that in a statement of Portugal had sent 60 soldiers to the former colony in May to run a four-month program training forces to fight the rebellion, share intelligence and Use drones to track militant movements.
UE Foreign Policy Head Josep Borrell said that 200-300 personnel could be deployed to Mozambique at the end of the year.
Portugal is ready to offer 50% of the workforce and will also provide commanders on land in Mozambique, where violence has driven more than 700,000 people from their homes in Cabo Delgado.