Community of Sant’Egidio and Portuguese president met in Rome over ‘path for dialogue’ in Mozambique

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Community of Sant’Egidio and Portuguese president met in Rome over ‘path for dialogue’ in Mozambique

8:18 CAT | 03 May 2016

The Portuguese president met in Rome with the Community of Sant’Egidio, on Monday, in the search for “a path for dialogue” to end the political and military crisis in Mozambique, an official of the Catholic organization told Lusa.

Speaking to Lusa, from Rome, Father Angelo Romano, from the Community of Sant’Egidio, spoke of “obstacles in the path of dialogue” between Frelimo and Renamo and has given the context for the organization’s contacts with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa: “Like all of Mozambique’s friends , we see what we can do. we want to do something, in collaboration with the authorities. “

Asked whether he hopes that the state visit of the Portuguese President to Mozambique, between Tuesday and Saturday, will contribute to some progress in the opening of talks between the parties, the head of the Community of Sant’Egidio said: “I absolutely hope.”

This was Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s second meeting of with the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome in less than two months after the meeting on 16 March and takes place hours before the Portuguese President to leave for Maputo.

The Catholic organization Community of Sant’Egidio, founded in Rome in 1968 and composed mainly of lay people, played a key role in mediating the negotiations that led to the signing of the General Peace Agreement between Frelimo and Renamo in Rome on October 4 1992 ending 16 years of civil war.

One of the main mediators of this agreement, Italian Mario Raffaeli, has recently visited Maputo, where he met Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi.

Renamo has been involved in clashes with the defence and security forces in central Mozambique and threatened to take power in six provinces (out of 11) where it claims victory in the 2014 general elections.

Last week, peasants reported to Lusa the existence of a trench with a hundred bodies in the Gorongosa region (centre), and the police announced the opening of an investigation.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa left Rome yesterday afternoon, heading for Mozambique after a brief half an hour stop in Lisbon.

Source: Lusa