UNGA adopts resolution demanding Russia end Ukraine war; Mozambique abstains from voting
Ukraine: Analysts say Maputo’s UN abstention aimed at “not undermining relations”
7:22 CAT | 07 Mar 2022
Photo: UN News
The Mozambican government has not justified its abstention in the vote on the UN General Assembly resolution on Wednesday, 2nd, condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Macamo meanwhile reiterated Maputo’s stance in asking for dialogue, but political analysts suggest that this was more a sign that the government did not want to undermine political, diplomatic and economic relations with Russia, with the United States or with the European Union.
“Mozambique has very strong relations with the European Union, which recently announced support for the fight against terrorism, also taking into account the natural gas projects in the Rovuma basin, of which European Union countries are potential buyers. Analysing the historical relations in the area of defence and security with Russia, Mozambique may have been caught not knowing what position to take in this context, hence the neutrality,” political analyst Gilder Anibal posits.
In turn, political analyst Wilker Dias says: “It was obvious that Mozambique, being a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, would take this position, because any of them could harm the country’s course throughout history.”
Dias further underlines that Maputo maintained the position assumed during the Cold War period.
“It is important to emphasise that history already indicates that Mozambique has, since the Cold War always been part of the non-aligned bloc, which did not adhere to either the Western side or to the side of the Soviet Union and could not take a different position because it does not identify with any side, remaining neutral,” he concludes.
VOA contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to learn about the Government’s position, but a source from the institution referred us to Minister Verónica Macamo’s statements yesterday.
“Guided by the constitutional principles of the Republic of Mozambique that defend the primacy of the negotiated solution of conflicts, we call for the exercise of moderation, the protection of human life, the cessation of hostilities and the re-launch of a constructive dialogue between the parties involved, with a view to a lasting political solution to the conflict,” reads the statement from the Ministry, which goes on to say that “the solution must be based on the cardinal principles of the United Nations Charter, in order to guarantee the peaceful coexistence of the parties to the conflict, responding to effectively and sustainably to the security needs of all countries in the region”.
Altogether 141 countries voted in favour of the General Assembly resolution, 35 abstained and five voted against.
Among CPLP member countries, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Brazil and Portugal voted in favour. Angola, Mozambique and Equatorial Guinea abstained, and Guinea-Bissau was absent.
Read: How African states voted on UN debate on Ukraine
By Alfredo Junior
Source: VOA Portugues
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