Mozambique: Peace talks continue – By Joseph Hanlon

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Mozambique: Peace talks continue – By Joseph Hanlon

9:14 CAT | 12 Jul 2019

Meeting between President Nyusi and Renamo leader ossufo Momade in Chimoio on June 2. [Picture: AIM Moçambique]

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Thursday 11 July arrived in Mozambique for a visit to President Filipe Nyusi. On Monday Guterres appointed the Swiss ambassador in Maputo, Mirko Manzoni, as his Personal Envoy for Mozambique.  The UN said he “will provide good offices in facilitating the dialogue between the Government of Mozambique and Renamo and towards the signing and subsequent implementation of a peace agreement between the parties”.  Manzoni has been the Swiss ambassador to Mozambique since 2014 and is the Chief Mediator and President of the International Contact Group in the negotiations between the government and Renamo. He will take up this new post upon conclusion of his tenure as Ambassador this year. Manzoni is seen as close to Nyusi.

ALSO READ: UN: Secretary-General appoints Mr. Mirko Manzoni of Switzerland as his Personal Envoy for Mozambique

Meanwhile Pope Francis will visit Mozambique 4-6 September, in the middle of the presidential election campaign, in which Catholic Nyusi faces Muslim Ossufo Momade.

The peace negotiations between the government and Renamo are progressing and will be completed before the elections on 15 October, according to President Filipe Nyusi. “The dialogue for peace with Renamo continues to make progress, which ensures that the timetable set for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process of Renamo’s armed men will be fulfilled,” Nyusi said in Italy at a meeting with the Catholic Sant’ Egidio Community, which was instrumental in helping the country achieve the 1992 Rome peace deal. (Lusa 10 July)

ALSO READ: Mozambique: DDR will be completed in due time – Nyusi

Both Nyusi and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade will want to sign a deal before the elections, as peace is popular with the electorate. But there will surely be no disarmament and demobilisation until next year.

By Joseph Hanlon

Source: News reports & clippings