Mozambique: First Renamo military base in north now closed, 560 demobilised – UN

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: First Renamo military base in north now closed, 560 demobilised – UN

8:43 CAT | 14 Dec 2021

File photo: United Nations

The United Nations Secretary-General’s personal envoy for peace negotiations in Mozambique announced the closure of the first Renamo base in the north of the country and the disarmament of all 560 combatants living there.

“We are pleased to report that a positive milestone has been reached in the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration [DDR] process with the closure of the first Renamo military base,” Mirko Manzoni said in a press release.

He said that with the end of the Murrupula base, the demobilisation of Renamo’s former armed men continues the march towards completion of DDR.

This brings to 11 the number of Renamo bases closed since June 2020, under the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement signed between Renamo and the Mozambican government on 6 August 2019, which ended months of political and military instability caused by the contestation of the results of the 2014 general elections.

Mirko Manzoni noted that 63% of Renamo’s military personnel have already been covered by the DDR, expressing expectation in the conclusion of the process.

“In addition to the progress in DDR this year, the country has taken important and intentional steps towards definitive peace, with tangible progress in the areas of decentralisation, reintegration and national reconciliation,” Manzoni stressed.

He assured that he will continue to work with the signatories of the agreement, communities and partners to enable the demobilized men and women make their contribution to building peace and prosperity in Mozambique.

The peace and national reconciliation agreement was the third between the Government of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) and Renamo, all three having been signed following cycles of armed violence between the two sides.

Under the agreement, some 5,000 guerrillas are to be demobilised, with some of them incorporated into the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces.

Source: Lusa