Maputo — The United States government has committed $1.5 million to support Mozambique in improving the management and security of its weapons and ammunition. The funding forms part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing national security.
Implemented in partnership with The HALO Trust USA, the programme seeks to prevent conventional weapons designated for public security from being diverted for criminal or terrorist activities. A major component of the initiative involves strengthening the skills and capabilities of security personnel through specialised training in the proper management, control, storage and safeguarding of arms and ammunition.
The initiative comes amid growing recognition of the importance of effective weapons and ammunition stockpile management in preventing the illicit diversion of arms. The US Department of State considers such cooperation part of its broader efforts to curb the illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons while improving the security of national weapons stockpiles.
A key element of the initiative is the development of the skills and expertise of Mozambican professionals. The programme seeks to provide security personnel with the knowledge and resources required to enhance arsenal management, improve weapons-control systems, and minimise the risk of arms and ammunition being diverted for criminal purposes.
Cooperation between Mozambique and the United States in the area of conventional weapons management is not a recent development. The US Department of State indicates that bilateral cooperation on conventional weapons destruction resumed in 2022, with American support directed towards strengthening the ability of Mozambican security forces to manage arms and ammunition and prevent their unlawful diversion.
In 2023, US assistance included the construction and installation of mobile armouries, alongside training programmes focused on stockpile management and the security of weapons and ammunition for Mozambican security personnel.
The effective management and control of arms and ammunition is intended to reduce the risk of state-owned weapons being diverted to criminal organisations or groups involved in violent and terrorist activities. For Mozambique, the latest initiative further expands international security cooperation while strengthening the capabilities of national institutions.
The partnership involving Mozambique, the United States, and The HALO Trust USA is therefore aimed at establishing safer and more accountable systems for managing weapons and ammunition. It seeks to minimise risks linked to inadequate storage, the diversion of arms, and the illicit circulation of ammunition.
The initiative forms part of a wider history of US assistance to Mozambique in the area of conventional weapons destruction. According to US Department of State figures, approximately $57.9 million was provided between 1993 and 2023 for programmes covering conventional weapons destruction, humanitarian mine-action efforts, and institutional capacity building in Mozambique.
