On 22 November 2019, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) concluded its follow-up visit to the Republic of Mozambique on behalf of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee.
CTED first visited Mozambique in 2012, when it conducted an initial assessment as part of a sub-regional set of country visits, which also included visits to the Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Botswana.
This time, with the active participation of Government authorities, CTED engaged on a full range of issues, from legal and criminal justice to terrorism financing, law enforcement, border management, and countering violent extremism. The delegation encouraged the authorities to adequately assess and fully understand the nature of the threat that they face in the north of the country, as well as the conditions conducive to the rise of this threat. In this regard, CTED emphasized the importance of adopting human rights-compliant and gender-responsive measures to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
The team further benefited from the expertise of representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the United Nations Department of Peace Operations’ Standing Police Capacity. A representative from the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) also joined the delegation.
The delegation observed progress made by Mozambique since 2012, including proactive measures aimed at aligning its legal framework with the requirements of relevant Council resolutions and the international counter-terrorism instruments. CTED further identified areas in which additional efforts may be needed from the Mozambican authorities, as well as areas in which Mozambique would benefit from dedicated technical assistance to better align its response to the applicable international counter-terrorism requirements.
During the five-day visit, the delegation visited the Maputo International Airport and the Ressano Garcia land border post (Mozambique-South Africa). The delegation also conducted a field visit to Pemba, Cabo Delgado, where it was welcomed by the Director of Justice of the Provincial Government. While in Pemba, the delegation visited the Mieze Corrections Centre, and held discussions with various religious and community leaders, as well as representatives of civil society organizations active in Cabo Delgado.
The delegation also benefited from the timely assistance of the United Nations Country Team in Mozambique, and held a meeting with representatives from the diplomatic community present in Maputo.