Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi (C-L) and RENAMO (Mozambican National Resistence) leader Ossufo Momade (C-R) hug each other after signing a ceasefire agreement in Maputo on Aug 6, 2019
MAPUTO, June 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The disarmament of some 5,000 Mozambican opposition guerrillas is expected to be completed in a year, the country’s president, Filipe Nyusi, said.
The process of demobilising and reintegrating the fighters back into society is part of the peace agreement signed in August 2019 between the Mozambican government, the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo), and the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party.
So far, more than 300 former Renamo guerrillas have been demobilised in a process that is expected to cover more than 5,000 members and which is expected to be completed in June 2021, he said during celebrations for the country’s 45 years of independence in Maputo.
“All Mozambicans hope that the process takes place in an environment of honesty, trust, seriousness and celerity,” he said.
However, peace is still threatened due to ‘terrorists’ in the north and attacks by dissident Renamo guerrillas in the centre, Nyusi said, praising the response of the Defence and Security Forces.
By Thursday, the country had a total of 788 cases of infection by the new coronavirus, five deaths and 221 recovered.
Mozambique on Thursday celebrates 45 years of independence from the Portuguese colonial regime, in the same year that the architect of national unity, Eduardo Mondlane, would be 100 years old.
At the Mozambican Heroes Square in Maputo, Nyusi led a ceremony to give medals to 10 national personalities who are part of a group of 175 decorated by the head of state. — NNN-AGENCIES