Analysts question Nyusi contact group for peace talks inMozambique

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Analysts question Nyusi contact group for peace talks inMozambique

12:45 CAT | 06 Mar 2017

Voa (File photo)

The contact group created by the Mozambican president and made up of the ambassadors of Switzerland, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Botswana, Ireland, Norway, China and the European Union was publicly presented on Wednesday February 1.

However, analysts say they do not understand what lies behind Filipe Nyusi’s decision to call for the involvement of foreign ambassadors in the political dialogue only a month after dismissing international mediators.

The president said at the time that the contact group would join the government and Renamo teams in discussing military and decentralization matters, without however indicating their role.

Observers say they are trying to understand this move, especially since Nyusi dismissed international mediators in January, stating that “the Mozambican people are grateful and appreciates the efforts of the mediators who have been instrumental in bringing the government and Renamo positions closer together”.

Analyst Tomás Uamusse said he did not understand this decision because “when the president of the dismissed the international mediators, I thought that the trust between Filipe Nyusi and Afonso Dhlakama had reached such a level that they no longer needed mediation”.

However, for Jerónimo Malagueta, deputy of the Assembly of the Republic and senior Renamo official, the formation of the contact group, “is a peaceful matter and results from understandings between Dhlakama and Nyusi”.

“One aspect related to the contact group is that its members live in Mozambique and this will mean that there is no need for additional costs or funds to keep them in the country,” he said.

When the Mozambican statesman announced the suspension of international mediation, he said the working groups, comprising government and Renamo representatives, agreed between Nyusi and Dhakama, would discuss military and decentralization matters in the presence of experts.

Source: Voa Portugues