Mozambique: Renamo says truce could be final

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Mozambique: Renamo says truce could be final

11:52 CAT | 23 Feb 2017

DW (File photo)

Renamo says that as far as it is concerned, the current truce could last for ever. The party’s mobilization for the return of those internally displaced by war is seen by analysts as another positive sign in the peace process.

The ceasefire in force, which ends on March 4, has been in place without major violations. This is the second truce period, lasting sixty days, after a shorter one, a week long, was implemented during the holiday festive season.

The truce came after a direct telephone call between the President Filipe Nyusi and the leader of the main opposition force, Afonso Dhlakama. In the conflict regions in central Mozambique, activities and the movement of people and goods are slowly getting back to normal.

Will the truce we see today last? José Manteigas, head of the Renamo delegation in the peace talks, says that “as far as President Dhlakama and the Renamo side is concerned, in principle, the truce must remain in place”.

José Manteigas, Sprecher von RENAMO Nationalrat in Beira — José Manteigas, head of the Renamo delegation in the peace negotiations

But Manteigas scolds the government for the slow progress in discussions of technical aspects. “Despite the slow pace on the part of the president of the Republic in the appointment of experts, as per the understanding between the two presidents, we as Renamo and President Dhlakama are under the expectation that, in fact, the truce may be indefinite, as long as the counterpart collaborates to that end”.

Good signs

This set of facts, as well as the willingness shown by the antagonists to press forward with the peace process, are interpreted by the political analyst Adelson Rafael as good signs regarding a definitive peace agreement.

He believes that “although it has not been made public, [there is] the beginning of an agreement, much because of the openness that is being shown”.

Rafael notes that, despite the good signs, there is still work to be done.

“Now we have to transform this. When I talk about the end of the truce, I do not think there is an explicit need for the government or the president of Renamo to go public and announce an expansion of the process. I think it will be decided that once and for all there is understanding that there will be no more military action.”

Mosambik Adelson Rafael — Adelson Rafael, specialist in good governance

But the analyst still has doubts: “I have doubts about the model used to announce this -whether it will be done by the president of the Republic or the leader of Renamo.”

In parallel, Renamo is resuming its activities as a political party. In the central provinces, the party is urging internally displaced people to return to their homes and get on with their lives.

Maneitagas recalls that “Renamo members, sympathizers and staff were being persecuted, kidnapped and murdered, and for some time now cadres have not been allowed to engage in political activity. That is why these moves are being made, urging members to have the courage to return to normal life, because it is only from a political perspective that Renamo will remain active in their lives”.

Renamo already keeping an eye on the elections

But there are other ambitions in this arena. “It is also time to start preparing a whole lot of activities for the next elections,” Manteigas says.

Mosambik Flüchtlingslager in Vanduzi — Vanduzi refugee camp, Manica province

The freedom of Renamo members to resume their political activities is also considered by analyst Adelson Rafael as part of agreements reached behind the scenes between the government and Renamo. In his view, it is another positive sign that peace can be indefinite.

“Taking into account the openness shown by the various institutions and organs of the state, Renamo’s actions indicate that there are many understandings beyond what has been shared, because in operational terms Renamo has began the process of reorganizing its party machine, with the consent of provincial governments.”

The analyst concludes that a new phase with regard to relations between the government and Renamo has begun.

“Although it is not explicit, it indicates that there was a directive to receive Renamo delegations and to initiate a new process in the coexistence between Renamo and the government.”

Source: Deutsche Welle