Mozambique: Nhongo available for negotiations, but demands government guarantees

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Mozambique: Nhongo available for negotiations, but demands government guarantees

4:59 CAT | 18 Dec 2020

File photo: DW

The leader of the self styled Renamo Military Junta, Mariano Nhongo, has expressed willingness to start a dialogue with the government as early as next week, but demands guarantees that his representatives will not be kidnapped.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi announced in parliament on Wednesday (16-12) that the Renamo Military Junta had refused to enter into dialogue to end the armed conflict in Manica and Sofala provinces in central Mozambique.

Nyusi said at the time that the Maputo executive had no other solution “but to unleash rigorous operations against the enemy, and that is what is happening now”.

On Thursday (17-12), the leader of the self-proclaimed Renamo Military Junta, Mariano Nhongo, expressed willingness to start a dialogue with the government next week, but demands guarantees that his representatives will not be kidnapped.

“Next Monday (21-12), I will nominate people who will go to the negotiating table with the government,” Nhongo said, demanding that the Mozambican parliament approve an amendment to protect its representatives. “I am waiting for the Assembly to pass a resolution to ensure that my men will not be kidnapped,” Nhongo reiterated.

Nhongo accuses FDS and Momade of abductions

Speaking to the press by telephone this Thursday (17-12), Mariano Nhongo accused the Defence and Security Forces of Mozambique and the Renamo leader, Ossufo Momade, of kidnapping his supporters.

“The government and Ossufo Momade are against me. It is enough [for them] to know that members who support the Military Junta, they are kidnapping,” Nhongo alleged.

There have been intense clashes involving members of the Junta and government troops in Manica and Sofala provinces in central Mozambique in recent days, which, in the understanding of the Junta leader, were aimed at stemming the wave of kidnappings.

The leader of the self-proclaimed Military Junta stated that the agenda items for the dialogue with the government were to be found in the list of demands, which has supposedly already been sent to the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi.

Source: Deutsche Welle