Nyusi orders government troops to withdraw from Renamo bases

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Nyusi orders government troops to withdraw from Renamo bases

11:22 CAT | 28 Apr 2017

DW (File photo)

President Nyusi has instructed government forces to withdraw from positions near or surrounding bases of the country’s largest opposition party, Renamo, who, together with government forces, are to set up peace monitoring centres.

“Two bases no longer have defence and security forces [present], and at a third, also a main Renamo base, we have instructed defence and security forces to leave,” Nyusi announced in Maputo on Thursday.

This last base mentioned, described as one of the main Renamo bases, is Nyamajiua, Gorongosa, Sofala province. Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama is known to have been in Gorongosa for more than a year.

Mosambik Maputo Präsident Filipe Nyusi (R) und Oppositionsführer Afonso Dhlakama — Meeting between Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi (right) and the opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama in February 2015

Two peace monitoring centres

President Nyusi said that a centre would be set up in Nyamajiua tasked with checking and monitoring possible cases threatening the peace. Another centre would be opened in Maputo, in the south of the country, “in order to intervene and give signs that there should be no confusion between us”.

The government and Renamo have each nominated two representatives to man the Maputo zone and four for Nyamajiua the centre.

These measures come at a time when the head of state and the leader of RENAMO have reiterated that they are in regular contact, announcing “progress” towards the establishment of a definitive peace in Mozambique.

Armed forces in country have been observing a truce since December. Already renewed twice, it expires on 5 May.

Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama maintains that there were some violations during this period but that they would not, however, hinder the ongoing talks. Dhlakama also hinted that he might announce a truce to remain in force until the conclusion of the political dialogue culminating in the signing of a definitive peace treaty.

Source: Deutsche Welle