The Speaker of the Mozambican Parliament, Margarida Adamugi Talapa, on Tuesday praised the Government of Japan for its continued humanitarian assistance to displaced communities affected by terrorism in Cabo Delgado province.
Speaking during a courtesy meeting in Maputo with Japan’s Ambassador to Mozambique, Hamade Keiji, Talapa emphasised the importance of sustaining support to victims of violence in the northern region.
“We have districts, such as Mecufi, that have been severely impacted by terrorist activities,” she said. “We take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation for Japan’s humanitarian aid and the technical assistance extended to our Ministry of the Interior.”
Talapa also expressed hope that Japan would become actively involved in Mozambique’s natural gas exploitation efforts in the Rovuma Basin, noting that such investment is vital for the country’s development.
“Mozambique relies on these investments to generate financial resources that drive national development and promote social well-being,” she underlined.
The Speaker went on to highlight the progress of political dialogue in the country, citing the recent unanimous approval of the Political Commitment Law as a sign of national consensus and maturity.
“In the upcoming ordinary session, the Assembly will establish a Mozambique–Japan friendship group, which will further strengthen inter-parliamentary relations between our two nations,” Talapa announced, noting that Ambassador Keiji’s visit would enhance parliamentary cooperation.
As part of ongoing dialogue in Mozambique, Talapa expressed interest in capacity-building and knowledge exchange with Japanese legislators.
“Any agreements reached at a bilateral level will eventually be debated in our Parliament, so it is essential that MPs are equipped to deal with specific matters, such as the Sovereign Wealth Fund,” she said.
Ambassador Keiji, in turn, reaffirmed the strong and growing bilateral relations between Mozambique and Japan. He outlined Tokyo’s efforts in Cabo Delgado, highlighting Japan’s dual approach: humanitarian aid through UN agencies and support for regional stabilisation in coordination with Mozambique’s Ministries of Defence and Interior.
In this regard, he noted that Japan has donated various resources, including vehicles and boats, to bolster security and mobility in areas worst affected by the insurgency.
Keiji also expressed Japan’s interest in intensifying inter-parliamentary exchange, stating that he hoped Japanese parliamentarians would soon visit Mozambique as part of efforts to deepen bilateral legislative ties.
The Japanese diplomat stressed that his country is closely monitoring the security situation in northern Mozambique, not only due to humanitarian concerns but also because of Japanese investment interests.
“We have a Japanese company involved in the gas project led by TotalEnergies, and we believe this initiative offers significant development opportunities for both Mozambicans and Japanese,” he stated. “For that reason, we hope the force majeure status declared by the French company can be lifted as soon as possible.”
