Mozambique: Demobilisation begins at Renamo Inhambane base

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Mozambique: Demobilisation begins at Renamo Inhambane base

7:41 CAT | 02 Dec 2020

Photo: O País

The demobilisation of members of the militia of Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, began on Monday at the Ribye military base, on the boundary between Funhalouro and Mabote districts, in the southern province of Inhambane.

This is believed to be the only Renamo base in the southern provinces. All the previous demobilisation of what are delicately referred to as Renamo’s “residual forces” has taken place in the central province of Sofala.

There are said to be 170 Renamo fighters stationed at Ribye, but many have already moved to an accommodation centre at Pambara, in Vilankulo district. According to a report in Tuesday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, Monday’s demobilisation procedures covered 40 of the 96 Renamo guerrillas currently living at Pambara.

At the ceremony, the Secretary of State for Inhambane, Ludmila Maguni, told the former fighters who are returning to civilian life that the government is willing to do all in its power to reintegrate them into local communities.

She asked the demobilised men to set an example, so as to influence those who have not yet committed to the DDR (demobilisation, disarming and reintegration) to leave their bush hideouts and join the efforts under way to build a better country.

Maguni said the peace process is “irreversible” and urged the former Renamo fighters to start a new life, and grow food in order to defeat hunger.

She also urged the population of Inhambane to welcome the demobilised men “with open arms and a generous heart”, so as to ensure their reintegration into society.

For his part, Paulo Chacine, the government representative on the Military Affairs commission, set up under the August 2019 peace agreement signed by President Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, said the government is determined to establish peace and tranquillity.

“The demobilised should look forward with trust and hope, because all of society is expecting them”, he declared.

Renamo General Secretary Andre Magibire, who represents Renamo on the Military Affairs Commission, urged those fighters still in the bush to join the DDR “and walk the path of peace, receiving new tasks without guns, but with hoes and socio-economic projects”.

The Ribye base will be declared closed on the day that the weapons and ammunition still in the hands of the militia members is surrendered to the authorities.

Source: AIM