MAPUTO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique plans to enroll 170,000 youths for military service this year, said the country's Defense Minister Atanasio Ntumuke on Monday.
Ntumuke was speaking at the official launch of the annual conscription campaign in the central province Manica, where he appealed to the young adults to exercise their duty to defend the country's independence and sovereignty.
"Observing the law, the government planned to enroll this year 170,000 young people from both sexes who will contribute to defend the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, which is a sacred duty and honor to all Mozambicans," said the minister.
As usual the mandatory registration campaign runs for the first two months of the year. It covers not only those who turn 18 in 2019, but anyone who for some reason failed to register in previous years, provided they are under 35 years old.
