Mozambique Elections: "We could be burying ourselves" - Araújo
Nyusi and Dhlakama talk on phone, with face-to-face delayed – Hanlon
1:51 CAT | 21 Jun 2016
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President Filipe Nyusi and Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama spoke on the telephone Wednesday and Thursday (15, 16 June), Dhlakama said in a telephone press conference Friday (17 June). But face to face talks seem some time off. (An STV news report with part of the Dhlakama statement is on https://youtu.be/m80dz0WzhZc)
He stressed that the key concession was on international mediators, which had been publicly accepted by Nyusi on Thursday. The government is expected to formally invite the European Union, South Africa and the Catholic Church to send mediators. Dhlakama said that formal talks between the two sides with the mediators could start as early as the coming week, but it is not clear if mediators can arrive in time.
Dhlakama said he insisted that the joint commission doing the preparations be expanded from three people on each side to six on each side, and this was accepted by Nyusi. The joint commission met Friday and will meet again Monday. On the agenda will be Dhlakama’s security when he leaves his camp on the Gorongosa mountainside.
But Dhlakama made clear he wants the talks about talks to continue before he meets face-to-face with Nyusi. He said that the priority is not the meeting between the two, but the consensus building by the teams set up by the government and Renamo. http://opais.sapo.mz/index.
He said that the four point agreed agenda for the talks includes two items from each side. From Renamo, “governing the six provinces won by Renamo and integrating Renamo military cadres into key positions in the armed forces.” From government, an immediate end to hostilities and disarmament of Renamo.
He said he was sure a “cease fire” could be negotiated, but that it had to apply to both sides and the government would have to stop its military activities against Renamo. (Noticias 17, 18 June; STV 17 June).
Source: News reports & clippings
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