Mozambican President Daniel Chapo is getting ready to visit Russia as part of plans to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. This was revealed on Tuesday by Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Maria Manuela Lucas, during a press briefing in Moscow after her meeting with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.
President Chapo, who officially became president of the southeast African country in January 2025, is expected to deepen bilateral ties with Russia during the upcoming visit. The Russian government, through Sergey Lavrov, has confirmed that it also plans to return the gesture with a visit to Maputo. Lavrov last visited Mozambique in 2018.
During their joint press briefing, Minister Lucas emphasized that Mozambique is looking to benefit from Russia’s expertise in different strategic areas, especially in fisheries and maritime development. She pointed out that although Mozambique has a long coastline along the Indian Ocean, its fishing industry remains underdeveloped.
“Russia has a vast experience in the field of fisheries development and development of water resources,” said Lucas. “We would like to use this experience and support to industrialize our country.”
Apart from maritime development, Mozambique is also aiming to deepen cooperation in the extractive sector, especially in oil and gas. According to Lucas, her country is interested in attracting Russian companies that are involved in energy exploration.
“We asked Minister Lavrov to support large companies from Russia that are engaged in oil and gas extraction and would like to enter the Mozambican market,” she said.
Russia has already been supporting Mozambique in the area of food security. In recent months, the country has supplied more than 70,000 tonnes of grain to Mozambique, which has helped ease the pressure of food supply caused by global disruptions and regional instability.
The two sides also discussed education. Lavrov noted that 75 Mozambican students are currently studying in Russian universities through a government quota, and Moscow is ready to offer more study slots to young Mozambicans in the future.
“We are ready to give more,” Lavrov said, stressing Russia’s readiness to invest in youth development through education.
In the area of finance, Lavrov spoke about ongoing efforts by Moscow to boost trade relations with African countries, including Mozambique, through the use of alternative financial systems. He said these systems rely more on national currencies instead of global financial institutions, which are mostly controlled by Western powers.
“These mechanisms have been functioning for quite some time and continue to improve, primarily involving the broader use of national currencies – but not exclusively,” he said. Lavrov added that this approach is helping Russia and its partners to trade more freely without pressure from Western financial systems.
Mozambique and Russia first established diplomatic relations in 1975, the year Mozambique gained independence from Portuguese colonial rule. Over the years, the two countries have maintained friendly ties, with Russia providing support in areas such as security, education, and food supply.
Observers say the planned visit by President Chapo could mark a new era in Russia-Mozambique relations, especially at a time when many African countries are seeking to diversify their foreign partnerships amid rising global tensions.
With its rich reserves of natural gas, coal, and minerals, Mozambique is attracting growing international interest. The country is looking to attract long-term investment in its energy sector, agriculture, and infrastructure, and Russia’s involvement could bring new opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
President Chapo’s expected visit comes as African nations increasingly explore cooperation with countries outside of traditional Western alliances, focusing on mutual benefit, non-interference, and shared development goals.
