- Russian President thanks Mozambique for its support at the United Nations and its rejection of “objectionable Russophobic actions”
- Mozambican President says that “Russia is a friend and a brother to us”
By MOZTIMES
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mozambican President Daniel Chapo met in Moscow on Tuesday, in their first meeting since the Mozambican President took office in January 2025.
The meeting, described by the Kremlin as a “conversation”, was marked by an exchange of praise between the two leaders, who highlighted the historical ties between their respective countries, forged through the support provided by the then Soviet Union to Mozambique’s National Liberation Struggle against Portuguese colonial rule.
“We completely share your commitment to strengthening multifaceted ties between our countries”, Putin said, adding that “Russia and Mozambique are bound by longstanding ties of friendship, established during the Mozambican people’s struggle for independence”.
The Russian President outlined several areas of bilateral cooperation, notably geology and mineral resource exploration, energy, education, science, health, transport, agriculture and information technology.
On the diplomatic front, he praised Mozambique’s support for Russian initiatives and its rejection of what he described as “objectionable Russophobic actions”.
“Our interaction at the multilateral platforms, primarily at the UN, is of a constructive nature”, Putin said. “We appreciate Mozambique’s support for many Russian initiatives and its rejection of objectionable Russophobic actions”.
For his part, Chapo thanked Russia for its support on several fronts, highlighting the training of personnel from Mozambique’s Defence and Security Forces involved in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado.
“I would like to express my particular gratitude to the Russian Federation for its support in the training and further development of our personnel and cadets, many of whom are currently studying at your military academies,” the Mozambican President said.
Chapo also described Russia as “a friend and a brother”.
“Russia is a friend and a brother to us, and we maintain truly fraternal ties with your people,” he said.
The meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit, which is being held in the Russian capital this week.
Despite the close ties between the two countries, Putin and Chapo had not met during the approximately two years since the Mozambican President took office. The war in Ukraine has largely occupied Putin’s attention, relegating other international cooperation priorities to the background.
Meanwhile, the European Union, whose relations with Russia have deteriorated sharply because of the war in Ukraine, remains one of Mozambique’s main international partners. (MT)
