Mozambique Defence Armed Forces

The Mozambique Defence Armed Forces were formed in mid August 1994 from the previous warring factions of the Mozambique Civil War, which ended in 1992.

The new armed forces were formed through a commission, the Comissão Conjunta para a Formação das Forças Armadas de Defesa e Segurança de Moçambique (CCFADM), chaired by the Organization of the United Nations to Mozambique ONUMOZ.[3] The new armed forces were formed by integrating those soldiers of the former Popular Forces for the Liberation of Mozambique (FPLM) and the rebels, the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) who wished to stay in uniform.[4]

Two Generals were appointed to lead the new forces, one from FRELIMO, Lieutenant General Lagos Lidimo, who was named Chief of the Defence Force and Major General Mateus Ngonhamo from RENAMO as Vice-Chief of the Defence Force. The former Chief of the Army (FPLM), Lieutenant General Antonio Hama Thai, was retired.

On 20 March 2008, Reuters reported that President Guebuza had dismissed the Chief and Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General Lagos Lidimo (FRELIMO) and Lieutenant General Mateus Ngonhamo (RENAMO), replacing them with Brigadier General Paulino Macaringue as Chief of Defence Force and Major General Olímpio Cambora as Vice-Chief of Defence Force.[5][6]

Filipe Nyussi took office as Minister of Defense on 27 March 2008, succeeding Tobias Joaquim Dai.[7] Nyussi's appointment came almost exactly one year after a fire and resulting explosions of munitions at the Malhazine armoury in Maputo killed more than 100 people and destroyed 14,000 homes. A government-appointed investigative commission concluded that negligence played a role in the disaster, and Dai "was blamed by many for failing to act on time to prevent the loss of life".[8] Although no official reason was given for Dai's removal, it may have been a "delayed reaction" to the Malhazine disaster.[9]

The first three infantry battalions were stationed at Chokwe, Cuamba, and Quelimane.[10]

In April 2010 it was announced that "the People's Republic of China donated to the FADM material for agriculture worth 4 million euros, including trucks, tractors, agricultural implements, mowers and motorbikes in the framework of bilateral cooperation in the military. Under a protocol of cooperation in the military field, the Government of China will also provide support to the Ministry of Defence of Mozambique with about 1 million euros for the areas of training and logistics. The protocol for granting aid to the Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique (FADM) was signed by Defense Minister of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Maputo, Lee Tongli."[11]

Mozambique has also been involved in many peacekeeping operations in Burundi (232 personnel),[12] Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor and Sudan. They have also actively participated in joint military operations such Blue Hungwe in Zimbabwe in 1997 and Blue Crane in South Africa in 1999. All which are at attempt to build security and trust in the Southern African region.

A Mozambique army officer during Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2010 with the United States

The Mozambican Army was formed in 1976 from three conventional battalions, two of which were trained in Tanzania and a third of which was trained in Zambia.[13] Army officer candidates were initially trained in Maputo by Chinese military instructors.[13] In March 1977, following Mozambique's Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union, officer candidates became eligible for training in various Warsaw Pact member states.[13] The Soviet military mission in Mozambique assisted in raising a new army composed of five infantry brigades and an armored brigade.[13] At the height of the civil war, this was gradually increased to eight infantry brigades, an armored brigade, and a counter-insurgency brigade[13] modeled after the Zimbabwean 5th Brigade.[14]

The preexisting army was abolished after the end of the civil war under the auspices of the Joint Commission for the Formation of the Mozambican Defence Force (CCFADM), which included advisers from Portugal, France, and the United Kingdom.[13] The CCFADM recommended that former army personnel and an equal number of demobilised RENAMO insurgents be integrated into a single force numbering about 30,000.[13] Due to logistics problems and budgetary constraints, however, the army only numbered about 12,195 in 1995.[13] Force levels rarely fluctuated between 1995 and the mid-2000s due to the army's limited resources and low budget priority.[13]

In 2016, the Mozambican Army consisted of 10,000 troops organised into three special forces battalions, seven light infantry battalions, two engineer battalions, two artillery battalions, and a single logistics battalion.[15]

As of 2017, the serving chief of the army was Major General Eugènio Dias Da Silva.[16]

Mozambique Army in Amani Africa II

Small arms

Weapon	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power[18]	Semi-automatic pistol	Belgium
Makarov[18]	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union
Stechkin[18]	Automatic pistol	Soviet Union
TT pistol[18]	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union
Walther P38[18]	Semi-automatic pistol	Germany
Submachine guns
FBP[18]	Submachine gun	Portugal
Franchi LF-57[18]	Submachine gun	Italy
Sa vz. 23[18]	Submachine gun	Czechoslovakia
Škorpion vz. 61[19]	Submachine gun	Czechoslovakia
Star Model Z84[18]	Submachine gun	Spain
Rifles
SKS[19]	Semi-automatic rifle	Soviet Union
AK-47[18]	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AKM[18]	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
vz. 58[18]	Assault rifle	Czechoslovakia
FN FAL[19]	Battle rifle	Belgium
Machine guns
RPK[19]	Light machine gun	Soviet Union
ZB vz. 37[18]	General-purpose machine gun	Czechoslovakia
Rheinmetall MG 3[18]	General-purpose machine gun	Germany	Italian Beretta MG 42/59 variant.[18]
PK[18]	Medium machine gun	Soviet Union
DShK[19]	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union
SG-43 Goryunov[18]	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union

Heavy weapons

Weapon	Type	Origin	Notes
Anti-Tank
B-10[18]	Recoilless rifle	Soviet Union
B-11[18]	Recoilless rifle	Soviet Union
RPG-7[20]	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union
9M14 Malyutka[18]	Anti-tank guided missile	Soviet Union
9K111 Fagot[18]	Anti-tank guided missile	Soviet Union
Air Defence
ZU-23-2	Anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	120 in service.[20][15]
61-K	Anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	90 in service; 10 in storage.[15]
AZP S-60	Anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	60 in service; 30 in storage.[15]
ZSU-57-2	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	20 in service.[20][15]
S-125 Neva/Pechora[21]	Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	103 originally acquired.[22]
9K31 Strela-1[22]	Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union
9K32 Strela-2	Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	20 operational.[20] Up to 250 in storage.[23]
Artillery
BS-3	Field gun	Soviet Union	20 in service.[20][15]
M-30[22]	Howitzer	Soviet Union
D-30	Howitzer	Soviet Union	12 in service.[20][15]
M-46	Field gun	Soviet Union	6 in service.[24]
D-1	Howitzer	Soviet Union	12 in service.[24][15]
ZiS-3	Field gun	Soviet Union	180 in service.[20]
D-48	Anti-tank gun	Soviet Union	6 in service.[24]
Type 56	Field gun	China	12 in service.[24][15]
BM-12	Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	12 in service.[24][15]
BM-21 Grad	Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	12 in service.[25]
120-PM-43	Heavy mortar	Soviet Union	12 in service.[24][15]
82-BM-37	Infantry mortar	Soviet Union	40 in service.[24][15]

Vehicles

Vehicle	Type	Origin	Notes
Tanks
T-55	Main battle tank	Soviet Union	90—110 originally in service;[22] status uncertain.[23]
T-54	Main battle tank	Soviet Union	60 originally in service;[22] status uncertain.[23]
PT-76	Light tank	Soviet Union	16 in service.[20][21]
Armoured cars
BRDM-1	Scout car	Soviet Union	31 originally in service;[22] >28 operational.[20]
BRDM-2	Scout car	Soviet Union	56 originally in service;[22] >28 operational.[20]
Armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles
BTR-40[21]	APC	Soviet Union
BTR-152	APC	Soviet Union	60—100 in service.[20][15]
BTR-60	APC	Soviet Union	80—160 in service.[20][15]
Saxon	APC	United Kingdom	25 in service.[15][22]
FV432	APC	United Kingdom	30—40 in service.[15][22]
WZ551	APC	China	30-35 in service
BMP-1	IFV	Soviet Union	40 in service.[15][20]
Utility vehicles
K61 GPT[21]	Amphibious transporter	Soviet Union
EQ2050	off-road vehicle	China

The Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aérea de Moçambique) or FAM was part of the national army initially, and from 1985 to 1990 was known as the People's Liberation Air Force (Força Aérea Popular de Libertação). Due to Mozambique's history, the air force has a history of using former Portuguese aircraft, ever since its setting-up after independence in 1975, supported by Cuba and the USSR. As such there was an inflow of Soviet-built aircraft to support the government in the civil war up to 1992. Following the ceasefire in that year the change in government policies towards Western-style economics meant that Cuban support for the Air Force dwindled and most of the aircraft have fallen into disrepair at the three main bases of Beira, Nacala and Nampula. The FAM is now effectively a token force, and the defence budget has been cut down to 1.5 percent of Mozambique's Gross National Product.[26] The number of personnel in the Air Force are estimated at 4000.

In 2011, the Portuguese Air Force offered FAM two Cessna FTB-337, updated with the latest technology for the use in training, aeromedical evacuation and maritime surveillance operations. This is part of the permanent technical-military cooperation (CTM) programme between Portugal and Mozambique. Regarding specifically the FAM, the Portuguese-Mozambican cooperation also includes other actions as the training of pilot officers, NCOs and aviation technicians, the creation of the aviation medicine and the air operations centers and the development of the search and rescue and flight safety capabilities. Also, several Mozambican officer cadets attend the Portuguese Air Force Academy.

In 2014, the Brazilian Minister of Defense disclosed its intention to donate 3 Embraer EMB 312 Tucano and assist on financing the purchase of 3 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano.[27]

In 2014, Mozambique News and Clippings 256 (Hanlon, J)reported the following: "The Romanian company Aerostar has completed the overhaul and upgrade of eight Mozambique Air Force MiG-21 fighters, some of which had not flown operationally for more than 20 years. The package also included the overhaul of a L-39 jet trainer along with six single-seat Mig-21 fighter jets and two double-seat MiG-21 trainer aircraft, as well as a full training programme for ground staff and pilots. Two R-40S basic trainer aircraft were also delivered. Six MiG-21s are now back in Mozambique with the final two aircraft shipped from Romania in early July".

Mozambique Air Force MiG-21

Current inventory

Air Force marking

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
MiG-21	Soviet Union	fighter		8[28]
Embraer EMB-312 Tucano	Brazil	patrol		3
Transport
An-26	Ukraine	transport		1[28]
Cessna FTB-337	United States	transport		3
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8	Russia	utility		6[28]
Mil Mi-24	Russia	attack	Mi-25	2[28]
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39	Czech Republic	jet trainer		2[28]

Mozambique Air Force Mil Mi-8

Mozambique Air Force AN-26

There are about 2000 personnel in the navy. In September 2004 it was reported that the South African Navy was to donate two of its Namacurra class harbour patrol boat to the Mozambique Navy. The boats were refitted by the naval dockyard at Simon's Town and equipped with outboard motors and navigation equipment donated by the French Navy. The French Navy Durance class command and replenishment oiler Marne (A360) was to deliver the boats to Maputo en route to its ALINDIEN operational area in the Indian Ocean after a refit in Cape Town.[29]

In 2013, the French shipyard CMN Group confirmed a major order by Mozambique, including 6 patrol vessels & interceptors.[30] On July 29, 2019 in the first ever visit by an Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh donated 2 L&T class Fast interceptor boats to the Navy. A team from Indian Coast Guard will also be stationed to train the crew, support for maintenance and operation of the two boats.[31]

• Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 182 No. 5370. pp. 40–64. ISSN 0015-3710.

• Protocol on the Formation of the FADM, Rome 1992
• Cameron R. Hume, Ending Mozambique's War: The Role of Mediation and Good Offices, U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington DC, 1994
• Lundin, Irae B, Martinho Chachiua, Anthonio Gaspar, Habiba Guebuzua, and Guilherme Mbilana (2000). Reducing Costs through an Expensive Exercise: The Impact of Demobilization in Mozambique, in Kees Kingma (ed.) Demobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Development and Security Impacts, Basingstoke, UK: MacMillan, 173-212
• Anica Lala, Security sector reform in post-conflict environments: An analysis of coherence and sequencing in Mozambique. Examining Peacebuilding Challenges of Defence, Police and Justice Reforms in a Neo-Liberal Era, 2014 Bradford thesis
• Anica Lala, Security and Democracy in Southern Africa: Mozambique, 2007
• Paulino Macaringue, "Civil-Military Relations in Post-Cold War Mozambique," Ourselves to Know, Institute for Security Studies, 2002.
• Martin Rupiya, 'Historical Context: War and Peace in Mozambique,' in Jeremy Armon, Dylan Henrickson and Alex Vines, eds, The Mozambican Peace Process in Perspective, London: Conciliation Resources Accord Series, 1998
• Richard Synge, Mozambique: UN Peacekeeping in Action, 1992–94, United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington, D.C., 1997 - includes details on formation of FADM
• Eric T. Young, The Development of the FADM in Mozambique: Internal and External Dynamics, African Security Review, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1996
• Joao Porto, Mozambique contributes to the African Union Mission in Burundi, April 2003

• United States Marine Corps, Brotherhood of Arms- story of one Mozambiqican officer's career
• https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1976MAPUTO00888_b.html - details in 1976

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document: "2003 edition".

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