EU against linking decentralization and disarmament in Mozambique

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

EU against linking decentralization and disarmament in Mozambique

1:39 CAT | 28 Jun 2018

EU flag if file CoM

The EU says the linking by Frelimo, Mozambique’s ruling party, of the decentralization process to the disarmament of the main opposition party Renamo is “not an approach which is good for progress”.

“It does not seem like a good recipe for progress, because it will not create confidence,” Von Burgsdorff told Lusa, adding that this approach to complex peace processes in other countries in similar situations “has never had the desired effect”.

“The desire of both parties is to create an atmosphere of trust, and this linking does not create such an atmosphere,” he said.

Despite opposing the linking of one discussion to the other, the EU representative told Lusa that he also understands the position that President Nyusi expressed on Monday, saying that the disarmament of Renamo was fundamental for peace and should start now.

“The words of the president seem to me quite legitimate, reminding the parties that disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) [of the armed wing of Renamo] is an “objective that has to be carried out as soon as possible. Going forward with DDR seems indispensable to me,” he added, noting that this was a dossier where “no progress is seen”.

Above all, Von Burgsdorff considers it “indispensable to continue the dialogue” that existed between Nyusi and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama, who died on May 3. “It was the path in the past and it has to be so in the future too,” he said.

Von Burgsdorff pointed out that it was urgent to approve electoral laws corresponding to the revision of the constitution on decentralization approved in May by the Assembly of the Republic. “At the level of legislation, we have to move ahead with the electoral review, to ensure consistency between constitutional amendments and the law in force, before the elections scheduled for 10 October,” he added.

Last week, at Frelimo’s request, the assembly of the Republic held an extraordinary session that had been scheduled for the 21st and 22nd of this month. Frelimo cited the lack of progress in the negotiation process on the disarmament of Renamo and requested an adjournment of the meeting to bring electoral law into line with the amendment to the constitution per the decentralization package negotiated between Nyusi and Dhlakama.

Source: Lusa