The parliament of Mozambique, a country in the southern part of Africa that has been faced with jihadist attacks in recent years, yesterday adopted a draft law that foresees that the mandatory service in the armed forces will be increased from 2 to 5 years.

According to the government, the purpose of the bill is to increase the level of professionalism in the armed forces.

“The extension of the term (…) and the transformation of the armed forces into professional ones are necessary factors for the training of soldiers so that they can rise to the level of the circumstances that the challenges for national security require”, emphasized the Minister of National Defense Cristóvao Sum addressing the members of the parliament.

The law, which is still subject to amendments, must be ratified by President Filipe Niuzi to take effect.

Since 2017, jihadist groups, generally referred to by the authorities as Shebab (“Youth” in Arabic), have been launching bloody attacks in the north of the former Portuguese colony.

In the hostilities, at least 4,700 people have lost their lives and at least one million others have been forcibly displaced, mainly in the province of Campo Delgado (north), impoverished despite its large natural gas deposits.

The authorities have now – thanks mainly to the help of the armed forces of neighboring countries and Rwanda – regained control over much of the province, but sporadic jihadist attacks continue.