Renamo base closed in Muxúnguè, Mozambique

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Renamo base closed in Muxúnguè, Mozambique

2:51 CAT | 16 Jul 2020

40 former Renamo guerrillas, demobilised in Muxúngue, under the scope of the DDR, born in Búzi, were received this Monday afternoon by the Búzi District Administrator and then sent to their areas of origin. [Photo: Rádio Comunitária de Búzi]

Yesterday saw the closure – in Muxúnguè, Chibabava district, Sofala province – of a second Renamo base.

Over the course of 14 days, 251 ex-combatants (including seven relatives of deceased combatants) underwent the disarmament and demobilisation process and returned safely to their families.

According to a statement sent to ‘O País’, the inspection and closure of the Muxúnguè base was carried out by members of the Joint Technical Group for DDR (GTCDDR) and the Joint Technical Group for Monitoring and Verification (GTCMV), together disarmament experts, a doctor, and members of the Peace Process Secretariat (PPS).

Representatives of local government and the PRM were also present, as in all the operations in Muxungwe, to safeguard the handover of the base and weapons.

The statement sent to O Pais describes the feeling as one of hope and expectation, with the ex-combatants anxious to return home and start a new chapter in their lives.

“DDR is not an easy task, and challenges are inevitable. But a commitment to moving forward prevails, and the closure of the Muxúnguè base marks the achievement of an important 10% milestone (in Dondo and Muxúnguè) of the total number of beneficiaries who are returning home (554 out of 5,221),” the statement reads.

“We would also like to express our appreciation for the tireless efforts of the parties involved – the working groups, representatives of the local government, the security services and community leaders and the people of Mozambique, who support this process in so many ways,” the personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to Mozambique and Chairman of the Contact Group, Mirko Manzoni, commented.