Mozambique: Portugal hails peace deal in prospect as huge step for stability

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Mozambique: Portugal hails peace deal in prospect as huge step for stability

7:05 CAT | 31 Jul 2019

Picture: Lusa

Portugal’s foreign minister, Augusto Santos Silva, on Wednesday welcomed the announcement that Mozambique’s government and main opposition are poised to sign a peace deal, calling it “a huge step” towards stability.

“This agreement will mean a huge step towards the peace and stability of Mozambique and a very important factor for economic and social development, for the welfare and security of Mozambican populations,” Santos Silva told Lusa.

He said that the signing of the agreement “constitutes a very decisive milestone” in the life of Mozambique and the whole region.

“Therefore, it is also decisive with regard to Portugal,” he added, saying that he felt “enormous jubilation and satisfaction” at the news.

“We have been following the very intense, time-consuming but committed work, conducted at the highest level,” he said. “Work that had a goal that has now been fulfilled… To bring definitive peace to Mozambique, reaching an agreement on the definitive cessation of the military hostilities still remaining between Renamo and the Mozambican state.”

Mozambique’s president, Filipe Nyusi, earlier announced in parliament that he would on Thursday sign an agreement on the definitive cessation of military hostilities with Renamo’s leader, Ossufo Momade, in the Gorongosa hills in the centre of the country.

Nyusi said that the agreement foresees a formal end to the clashes between Mozambique’s defence and security forces and the armed wing of Renamo, which is also the second largest party in parliament.

Talks on the deal started as part of dialogue between Nyusi and Renamo’s late leader, Afonso Dhlakama, which continued under his successor, Momade.

As part of those talks, Monday saw a start to the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former Renamo guerrillas, in Gorongosa.

Thursday’s agreement will be the third between the Frelimo government and Renamo, after the 1992 Rome General Peace Agreement and a 2014 ceasefire deal that was soon followed by a fresh wave of clashes.

Source: Lusa