EU Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique Appoints New Commander

EU Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique Appoints New Commander

Maputo, 10 September 2025 - Earlier today, in Maputo, the handover ceremony of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Mozambique (EUMAM MOZ) took place. Brigadier General Luís Barroso, who led the mission over the past year, officially handed over command to Commodore César Pires Correia of the Portuguese Navy.

The ceremony was presided over by Lieutenant General Michiel van der Laan, Director of the EU's Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), and was attended by several civil and military authorities, diplomatic representatives from EU Member States, and members of the Mozambican Defence Armed Forces (FADM), among others.

In his farewell address, Brigadier General Luís Barroso highlighted the dedication of both European and Mozambican military personnel in building sustainable solutions and praised the progress made, particularly the 16 assistance programmes carried out, which involved over 500 FADM personnel. He also emphasised the central role of the FADM in the fight against terrorism. He closed by thanking the military personnel of the contingent, stating: "You have been, and will continue to be, the builders of our mission, to whom I express my deepest appreciation."

In his inaugural speech, Commodore César Pires Correia expressed his honour at being appointed as the new Commander of EUMAM MOZ. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the work accomplished, deepening existing cooperation, and promoting an approach based on partnership, knowledge transfer, and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

Lieutenant General Michiel van der Laan, Director of the MPCC, acknowledged the significant achievements of the mission during its first year, commending the leadership, professionalism, and perseverance of Brigadier General Luís Barroso and the dedication of the entire team.

To the new Commander, the MPCC Director extended his best wishes for success, underlining that this handover marks not only a change in leadership but also a reaffirmation of the EU's shared commitment to Mozambique.

EUMAM MOZ is a non-executive European Union mission with a mandate until June 2026. Its focus is on operational training cycles, maintenance, and specialised instruction, with the aim of enabling the FADM to become self-sufficient in responding to internal security challenges. The mission currently includes military personnel from 11 EU Member States.