Last week, US intelligence officials arrived in South Africa to engage in discussions with their counterparts regarding the escalating situation in Mozambique. The country is currently experiencing rising political tensions and the threat of a popular uprising as it awaits the findings of an inquiry into October’s national election, which the ruling party, Frelimo, won amid significant controversy.
The US officials arrived on a C-17 Globemaster plane, which landed at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIL). According to sources from Rapport, meetings with the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC) were held at this location. NICOC comprises representatives from state security, defense, crime intelligence, and the financial intelligence center, with additional departments potentially involved.
For the past few years, the US has maintained a training team in Mozambique, assisting with the training of a specialist response unit within the Mozambican army. This ongoing support underscores the strategic importance of Mozambique to US interests in the region.
Simultaneously, a British Air Force Airbus A400M landed in Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday, with its call sign indicating an emergency operational flight. Aviation sources reported that several meetings have taken place at Lanseria Airport in recent days to discuss the emergency evacuation of various embassies and foreign nationals in Mozambique. These forward teams in South Africa are ensuring that there is sufficient fuel at Lanseria for additional flights to temporarily house their countrymen who may need to be evacuated from Mozambique before flying out of the country.
The United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are also involved in these contingency plans. Should the need arise, operations will be coordinated from South Africa and Botswana. Insiders in the intelligence community have indicated that the Americans and other embassy staff in Mozambique are already engaged in contingency planning in anticipation of the constitutional council’s verdict on the election, which is expected shortly before Christmas.
This coordinated effort highlights the international community’s concern over the stability of Mozambique and the potential for widespread unrest. The involvement of multiple agencies and the strategic planning for emergency evacuations underscore the seriousness of the situation and the commitment to ensuring the safety of foreign nationals and embassy staff in the region.
In April, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the extension of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) deployment in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province until December 31, 2024. This strategic decision is part of South Africa’s commitment to combating the escalating acts of terrorism and violent extremism in the region.
The extension, involving 1,495 SANDF personnel, aligns with South Africa’s international obligations under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to support Mozambique’s fight against insurgent groups. The announcement was made through a communication to the South African Parliament, which was later quoted by the SAVANA newspaper.
President Ramaphosa’s letter to the Parliament, dated April 15, clarifies that the deployment is not merely an extension but a necessary legal cover for the forces already stationed in Cabo Delgado, whose mandate concluded on the same date. The operation, named “Vikela” – a Zulu term meaning “defend” – will continue to safeguard the northern regions of Mozambique from insurgent activities.
Despite the initial plans for withdrawal, as evidenced by a farewell parade on April 7 and subsequent readiness evaluations, the South African contingent will now remain active in Mozambique until the end of the year.
