Mario Raffaelli and Angelo Romano are the EU mediators to Mozambique peace talks

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Mario Raffaelli and Angelo Romano are the EU mediators to Mozambique peace talks

10:23 CAT | 15 Jul 2016

The European Union has proposed Mario Raffaelli and Angelo Romano, from the Community of Sant’Egidio, the institution which mediated Mozambique’s General Peace Agreement in Rome in 1992, as mediators in the new negotiations between the Mozambican government and Renamo.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini confirmed the names in response to a request by the Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, to the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, a source from the EU confirmed to Lusa.

Mhoje_raffaelli_photo_jpg — Mario Raffaelli

Mario Raffaelli was the chief mediator of the General Peace Agreement signed in 1992 by former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano and the leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Afonso Dhlakama, ending 16 years of civil war that left about one million dead in Mozambique.

The Italian politician visited Mozambique in February and held talks with the parties, calling for peace at a time when the country was experiencing escalating clashes between Renamo and defence and security forces.

Priest Angelo Romano previously met the Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Rome in May, days before his first visit to Mozambique. Speaking to Lusa from Rome, Romano said at the time that the meeting was aimed at searching out “a path for dialogue” in Mozambique.

Mhoje_angeloromano_photo_jpg — Father Angelo Romano

The president of Mozambique and the Renamo leader indicated in June they had reached consensus on the participation of international mediators in negotiations to end the fighting, with Renamo proposing the involvement of mediators from the EU, the Catholic church and South Africa.

On Monday, the Mediafax daily reported that the government intended adding former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete, former British prime minister Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation and former US undersecretary for African affairs, Chester Crocker’s Global Leadership Foundation, to the list.

Although the two sides have resumed negotiations, attacks by alleged Renamo gunmen against civilian and military vehicles in the centre of the country have seen no let-up, and Renamo accuses the Defence and Security Forces of intensifying the shlling in the hills of Gorongosa, where Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama is presumed to be living.

The main opposition party refuses to accept the results of the 2014 general election, asserting its right to govern in the six provinces where it claims victory in the polls.

Source: Lusa