UNODC and the UN Peace and Development Fund provide specialized investigative equipment to support Mozambique to bring terrorists to justice

<span style="color: #999999;"><em><em> </em></em></span>

Maputo (Mozambique), 02 March 2021 – Collecting and preserving evidence at a terrorism crime scene is a key element to build a successful case for prosecution, helping, this way, to bring terrorists and those who support them to justice while respecting the rule of law.

In Mozambique, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is working closely with counter-terrorism investigators to build their skills and ability to effectively investigate terrorism cases, to prevent and counter the growing terrorism threat facing the country.

The provision of specialized investigative equipment will build on this support which has included training on good practices in evidence collection, forensic exploitation, and crime scene management, providing investigators from the Mozambican National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) with the tools they need to effectively carry out their important jobs.

Since 2019, UNODC has been providing counter-terrorism support to Mozambican criminal justice officials as part of the “Maputo Roadmap of UNODC engagement in Mozambique” – a comprehensive capacity building assistance roadmap, agreed by the Government of Mozambique and UNODC on key areas such as preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

UNODC’s counter-terrorism support has targeted officials working in Northern Mozambique, the area most affected by terrorism, and has worked to build their knowledge and skills on investigation, prosecution and adjudication of terrorism offenses as well as on the importance of strengthening inter-agency cooperation.

UNODC handed over the specialized forensic equipment in a ceremony at SERNIC premises on 2 March 2021. At the event, Mr. Cesar Guedes, UNODC Representative in Mozambique, highlighted the good cooperation and collaboration between UNODC and SERNIC in the prevention and fight against terrorism, noting “UNODC is pleased to be able to continue to support Mozambican investigators in providing the equipment and skills you need to do your jobs effectively, given the key role you play in Mozambique’s response to terrorism. We look forward to continuing this cooperation in the year ahead”.

Dr. Fernando Francisco, SERNIC Deputy Director general, affirmed “I am pleased with the strengthened partnership between UNODC and SERNIC. Certainly, the establishment of the new UNODC office in Maputo and the approval of the Maputo Roadmap enhance our cooperation, bringing in important technical capacities to support SERNIC on various fronts”.

The equipment was provided through a project supported by the United Nations Peace and Development Fund, with funding from the People’s Republic of China, to support Southern Africa Development Countries to build their criminal justice responses to counter terrorism and violent extremism.

More information

To find out more about UNODC's work in the field of counterterrorism in Mozambique, click here.

United Nations

UNODC ROSAF

UNODC and the UN Peace and Development Fund provide specialized investigative equipment to support Mozambique to bring terrorists to justice

More information