Mozambique: Pensions for former guerrillas condition for peace, says Renamo - AIM
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Renamo, the main Mozambican opposition party, said in Maputo on Tuesday that President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal is in a position to exert influence in favour of international mediation of the political and military conflict in the country.
“He is very well informed about what is happening in Mozambique and I believe that, being very well informed, he is in a position to influence parties in favour of an internationally mediated solution, as is our claim,” head of Renamo in parliament Ivone Soares told journalists.
Speaking after a confidential 45-minute meeting with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Soares called on all friends of Mozambique to come to the aid of the country.
“We want to appeal to all friends of Mozambique not to be shy at a time when we are facing problems of all kinds – political, social and economic.”
Asked if Renamo felt itself indicted by president Rebelo de Sousa, who said on Wednesday that in democracy disputes should not be resolved through violence, Soares said she felt that the statements were directed at the Frelimo government which, she said, had armed itself to annihilate the main opposition party.
“I think the President Rebelo de Sousa made a major criticism of the Frelimo regime, which has been buying weapons to attack Renamo,” Soares said, asserting Renamo’s right to act in self-defence.
The political and military situation in Mozambique has deteriorated sharply in recent months, with clashes between government and Renamo and attacks attributed to armed opposition fighters on the country’s roads.
Renamo refuses to accept the results of the 2014 election, officially won by Frelimo, and threatens to seize power in six provinces where it claims victory at the polls.
Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama is allegedly in the central Mozambique Gorongosa region after his transit convoys suffered two attacks in Manica province and his bodyguard was forcibly disarmed in police action at his home in Beira, capital of Sofala.
Despite calls for dialogue by the President Nyusi, Renamo argues that the peace agreements concluded in the past are not being met by Frelimo and demands EU, South Africa and Catholic church mediation as a precondition for resuming negotiations.
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