Mozambique: UN advocates former guerrillas reintegration “with dignity”

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Mozambique: UN advocates former guerrillas reintegration “with dignity”

4:28 CAT | 24 Sep 2020

File photo: Lusa

The UN envoy in Mozambique stresses that the country is responsible for integrating Renamo’s residual forces into society “with dignity”. In turn, former Renamo ‘number 2’ Raúl Domingos says the process is being poorly managed.

Diplomat Mirko Manzoni, a UN envoy for the pacification of Mozambique, believes that the former guerrillas of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) should be reintegrated into society “with dignity” to facilitate reconciliation among Mozambicans.

Mirko.m.dw_ — *Mirko Manzoni, UN envoy for the pacification of Mozambique*

“It is our responsibility to respond to the combatants and reintegrate them with dignity”, Manzoni stressed, making it clear, however, that the process faces many challenges and must be seen in the medium and long term.

The UN position was expressed during a lecture in Maputo on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process for former guerrillas.

Mirko Manzoni underlined that, before the signing of the peace agreement in August, 2019, conditions were created for the parties involved to trust the agreement.

“The most interesting thing is,” the facilitator said, “that the speeches of President of the Republic Filipe Nyusi and the leader of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, seem aligned. Now, I think we have to support this dialogue between them, because it is from there that we draw the leadership to disarm and to reconcile the country.”

Dddrmm — *The meeting on the DDR process in Maputo this Wednesday (23-09)*

Misapplication of funds

But former Renamo number two Raúl Domingos considers the DDR process a failure, citing the supplying of construction material such as zinc sheets, hoes, machetes and seeds to former guerrillas.

Rdom.dw_ — *Raúl Domingos, politician and former second-in-command at Renamo*

“It seems to me that no house is going to be built with this material. Most likely, the guerrilla will sell the zinc sheets at the first opportunity and stay with a family member or friend,” he explains. “It is money that I think is misapplied. One could think of a better way to guarantee a residence for the demobilised guerrilla,” he says.

Mirko Manzoni however notes that the former Renamo guerrillas’ reintegration deal is the result of an agreement between Renamo and the government.

“In the first year after coming in from the bush, they receive a social reinsertion package that was negotiated by the military affairs commission. And, in this commission, the decision made was to include construction material that could be used. There is also a financial package, in the form of a pension,” he explained.

Source: Deutsche Welle