Talks suspended again, as Dhlakama meeting aborted – Hanlon

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Talks suspended again, as Dhlakama meeting aborted – Hanlon

7:39 CAT | 31 Oct 2016

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File photo / From left to right: EU- appointed mediators Mario Raffaelli and Father Angelo Romano and Vatican-appointed mediator Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra

Peace talks have been suspended again until 10 November, and mediators have returned home. This round consisted only of meetings between mediators and each side separately, and no joint meetings. Lead negotiator Mario Raffaelli told the press on Friday afternoon (28 Oct) that, based on the meetings with the two sides, he had given two very general documents to the two sides to consider before 10 November. One is a “packet of principles relating to decentralization” that should guide the drafting of a proposed law, which he hopes would be sent to parliament before the end of November. The other is “a ‘road map’ to tackle the other agenda points.” (Lusa 28 Oct)

Meanwhile an attempt by mediators to meet Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama on Saturday 22 October failed. Raffaelli finally confirmed on Friday that, with the agreement of President Filipe Nyusi, a meeting between mediators and Dhlakama had been scheduled for 22 October, and was called off at the last minute.

Raffaelli, mediator Jonathan Powell, and two members each of Renamo and government military had gone to Gorongosa Saturday morning (22 Oct). They were to go on to a Renamo base at Siwe, in the bush, later that morning. But Dhlakama phoned to tell them that government forces were attacking the Siwe base, and it was not safe to continue. Raffaelli and Powell returned to Beira and flew back to Maputo.

Dhlakama accused Nyusi of lying, saying he had promised to pull troops back from two government bases near Siwe but instead the bases were strengthened and Siwe attacked. He said he was “convinced” that Frelimo “wanted to capture me during the meeting. … It is obvious they have a plan to kill me.”

The incident was first revealed on the Facebook page of Unay Cambuma on the day (22 Oct) and more details were given in an interview with Dhlakama in Canal de Mocambique (26 Oct). At first, Raffaelli denied the incidents as false rumours. But in his Friday press conference Raffaelli apologised to the Canal de Mocambique journalist. (CanalMoz28 Oct)

Comment: The killing this year of seven Renamo political officials, some very senior, suggests the existence of a hit squad, perhaps linked to the security service SISE. The Prime Minister’s response in parliament was convoluted and he said he wanted to “distance the government” from the accusations. Although government had not commented, one must assume that there was military action near the meeting place after President Nyusi said there would not be. Together these point to two possibilities. Either the President and government really do not have control over part of the military and security services, or as part of their negotiating strategy and an attempt to not make concessions, they are presenting a picture of not controlling their own forces.

By: Joseph Hanlon

Source: News Reports & Clippings