Mozambique has announced that it plans to enroll 170,000 youth between the ages of 18 and 35 years to the military service in 2019. The announcement was made by Atanasio Ntumuke, the defense minister who echoes that the increased enrollment is geared at helping to fulfill the country’s commitment to several peacekeeping missions as well as have enough manpower to combat terrorism in the country.
Ntumuke said, “Observing the law, the government plans to enroll 170,000 young people this year from both sexes, who will contribute to defending the country’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, which is a sacred duty and honor to all Mozambicans.”
Mozambique has been dealing with a terror outbreak by a jihadist terror outfit known locally as al Shabaab with the threat spreading to include foreign fighters from the neighboring countries. The jihadist fighters have terrorized the remote communities with guns and knife attacks in the gas-rich and Muslim-majority Cabo Delgado region for more than a year with an intention of creating an independent state. The attacks have left over 100 civilians killed and thousands fleeing their homes.
