Mozambique: Renamo concerned at ‘lack of compliance’ with ‘some aspects’ of peace deal

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Mozambique: Renamo concerned at ‘lack of compliance’ with ‘some aspects’ of peace deal

1:30 CAT | 07 Aug 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]

The president of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo, the main opposition party) expressed concern about “the lack of compliance with some aspects of the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement”, signed with the government six years ago.

“Although we highlight some progress in the DDR [Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration] process, especially with regard to the establishment of pensions, the reintegration process and the lack of compliance with some aspects of the agreement continue to concern us,” reads a message from Ossufo Momade released on Tuesday and alluding to the signing of the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement.

The leader of the main opposition party calls on the international community to fulfil the promises made under the agreement with the government.

Highlighting the date as “important for Mozambicans”, Ossufo Momade urges former guerrillas from Renamo’s armed wing to “remain calm and dedicate themselves to the ongoing electoral process, especially in monitoring the vote, on October 9”.

The Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, stated yesterday that the “journey to peace” in the country “did not end” with the signing of the agreement with Renamo, and that everything depends on Mozambicans and the “power of dialogue”.

“Today we celebrate peace as we mark the passing of five years since the signing of the Maputo Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation. Our journey to peace did not end with the signing of the agreement. Mozambicans throughout the country and in the diaspora must continue to work tirelessly, a task that began on August 6th, to make peace a resilient reality,” the head of state said.

Nyusi added, in a message posted on his official Facebook account, that 5,221 former Renamo combatants “were demobilised and returned to their families and communities” as part of the DDR process.

“We want to provide the best possible support for their socioeconomic reintegration to make peace more sustainable. That is why more than 3,540 DDR beneficiaries are already receiving their pensions. And the process to establish the remaining pensions continues,” he said.

The DDR process, which began in 2018, covers 5,221 former Renamo guerrillas, 257 of whom are women, and ended in June 2023 with the closure of the Vunduzi base, the last Renamo stronghold, in Gorongosa district, central Sofala province.

The 1992 General Peace Agreement put an end to a 16-year war between the government army and the Renamo guerrillas. It was signed in Rome between the then president, Joaquim Chissano, and Afonso Dhlakama, the historic leader of Renamo, who died in May 2018.

In 2013, further clashes between the parties occurred, lasting 17 months and only ending with the signing, on 5 September 2014, of the Agreement on the Cessation of Military Hostilities, between Dhlakama and former head of state Armando Guebuza.

On August 1, 2019, the Agreement on the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities was signed in Gorongosa between the government and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, after years of talks with the historic leader and founder Afonso Dhlakama (1953–2018).

On August 6, 2019, a third Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement, now being materialised, was signed in Maputo by the current Mozambican head of state and the president of Renamo.

Source: Lusa