DENMARK will close its missions in Zimbabwe and Mozambique as it reduces spending on development co-operation, but the mission will, however, honour all agreements entered into with the two countries.
STAFF REPORTER
The Danish government will also continue its humanitarian assistance to the two countries until next year.
“The Danish Government has decided to refocus our aid geographically, meaning that we are phasing out assistance to Southern Africa and will be closing our missions in Zimbabwe and Mozambique; just two years ago we closed our embassy in Lusaka,” outgoing Harare Royal Danish Embassy Office head of mission Erik Brøgger Rasmussen said.
Danish Foreign Affairs minister Kristian Jensen, however, said Denmark would increase its aid to Africa, but only to the poorest countries desperately in need of help.
“We want to invest in peace and security and improve the possibilities for sustainable growth and trade,” Jensen said.
The reprioritisation of Danish development co-operation will entail that the large majority of priority countries, 10 out of 14, in the future will be located in Africa.
Future priority countries are Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Afghanistan, Palestine, Burma and Bangladesh.
