Riyaz Patel
President Cyril Ramaphosa is travelling to Mozambique where he will attend the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement Signing Ceremony in the capital Maputo.
The Agreement follows successful talks between the Government of Mozambique and the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO), which culminated with the signing of an agreement on Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities, on 1 August 2019.
The permanent ceasefire is the culmination of years of negotiations to end fighting that has flared up several times in the more than 25 years since the end of the civil war in which an estimated 1 million people have died.
Pretoria and Maputo share cordial and fraternal bilateral, political, economic and social relations underpinned by strong historical ties dating back to the years of their liberation struggles.
Ramaphosa’s presence at the peace signing ceremony is in solidarity with the people of Mozambique and in support of peace and stability in the country.
President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said: “The agreement will bind both sides to refrain from all hostile or military acts against forces and positions or property, and against the population.”
Namibian president, Hage Geingob, who also holds the current chair of the South African Development Community (SADC) said the peace accord shows African leaders are determined to turn a new leaf.
The African Union (AU) welcomed the peace agreement with AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat calling on “all national stakeholders to maintain the positive momentum and to redouble efforts towards durable and sustainable peace, reconciliation and stability in the country.”
Mahamat also restated the African Union’s pledge to support the peace process, as well as government’s efforts to achieve sustainable socio-economic development in the Southern African nation.
Mozambique’s former colonial power, Portugal, said in a statement that the signing of the peace accord represents a decisive milestone for peace and stability of Mozambique.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini is also in Maputo to witness the signing of the historic peace agreement, pledging €50 million to support the peace process.
Tuesday’s agreement will be the third peace deal that Renamo has inked.
The first was the General Peace Agreement signed in Rome on 4 October 1992 by former Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama (r) and President Joaquim Chissano (l).
The second, 22 years later, was the agreement on a cessation of hostilities signed by Dhlakama and Chissano’s successor, Armando Guebuza, on 5 September 2014, at the Presidential Palace in Maputo.
