Mozambique: Ruling party condemns ‘pressure’ on abstaining in Ukraine vote – Lusa report

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Mozambique: Ruling party condemns ‘pressure’ on abstaining in Ukraine vote – Lusa report

2:32 CAT | 01 Apr 2022

FILE PHOTO - For illustration purposes only. [File photo:Lusa]

Frelimo, the ruling party in Mozambique, has condemned “pressure” from some Western countries for Mozambique to repudiate the Russian invasion of Ukraine, defending its “sovereign decision to abstain” on its position regarding the conflict.

“Our foreign policy never aligns with group interests, but with the interests of Mozambicans,” said the spokesman for the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), Caifadine Manasse, speaking today to Notícias, the country’s main daily newspaper.

Manasse justified Mozambique’s position on the war between Russia and Ukraine with the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality, non-interference in internal affairs and reciprocity of benefits.

“We urge our cooperation partners to understand this, and we will continue to walk the path of good coexistence, strengthening and consolidating the ties of cooperation and friendship,” Caifadine said.

Ambassadors from western countries have publicly expressed discontent with the Mozambican government’s abstention in the vote on the General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with US and European diplomats reminding Maputo that their countries channel a great deal of support to the African nation, in the context of development cooperation, which is considered blackmail by the Mozambican authorities.

Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine on 24 February that has killed at least 1,232 civilians, including 112 children. It wounded 1,935, including 149 children, according to the latest figures from the UN, which warns that the actual number of civilian casualties is likely to be much higher.

The war has caused more than 10 million people to flee, including more than 4 million refugees in neighbouring countries and almost 6.5 million internally displaced persons.

The UN estimates that some 13 million people need humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

The international community condemned the Russian invasion, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and strengthening economic and political sanctions on Moscow.

Source: Lusa