Mozambique

Dialogue, violence and charm, offensive: the Old order in Mozambique

In Maputo will be re-negotiated in time of peace. At the same time violence prevails in many Parts of the country. Meanwhile, the government party Frelimo and advertising in Berlin, political support.

Most of the international mediators were already arrived in the Mozambican capital, with a further round of Negotiations to usher in peace. Since the Mozambican police spokesman Jacinto Félix reported a “great success” in the fight against armed supporters of the opposition Renamo: an attack on the headquarters of the former rebel organisation in Morrumbala, in the Central Mozambican province of Zambézia, in the dawn of the 10. September:

“We have stormed the headquarters and the armed Renamo supporters in the escape beat. We have the Situation under control,” said Jacinto Félix and announced further strikes against the Renamo rebels, and if they stopped, government institutions to attack and destroy. Once again, he accused the Renamo-supporters to commit arson attacks on government buildings, road blockades and attacks on trucks and freight trains.

Negotiations in the shadow of violence

On the death victims in the attack on the Renamo headquarters of Morrumbala speaker made the police no information. Meanwhile, official sources speak of nine deaths. According to information from the DW correspondents killed, Renamo is likely to be of a much larger number of followers and also of Victims among the civilian population. “It seems so, as the government facts wanted to create before the new talks, which began this Monday,” says Marcelino Mueia, DW correspondent in the Zambézia province. Except Morrumbala, the largest base of the rebels, had been attacked in the past few days, other points of support of Renamo.

Even unarmed members of Parliament and officials of Renamo can’t feel safe from attack: However, they are not attacked by police units, but most of the “Unknown”. Several Renamo officials arrived in the last few months by “stops” the loss of life, for most of the Mozambican secret service SISE responsible. Only last Thursday, Ivone Soares, Head of the Renamo in the Mozambican Parliament had escaped, almost to a stop.

Frelimo-promotional tour in Berlin

Since the independence in 1975, ruling government party Frelimo and lead their struggle for political sovereignty in Mozambique, but especially at the diplomatic level, stresses Egídio Vaz, an independent political Analyst from Mozambique. The show at the visit of a high-ranking Frelimo Delegation in Berlin, which ends tomorrow. To Germany to care for the party has always been intense relationships.

President Filipe Nyusi

But, as the Head of the Delegation, Frelimo group boss, Margarida Talapa, their German discussion partners explained the situation in Mozambique? The security forces acted in conformity with the Constitution, said Talapa in the DW-interview. They have a monopoly on violence and have nothing else done, than to take this monopoly claim: “The Problem of the Renamo, the attacks continue to be civilians, although we are in dialogue with each other. You kill innocent citizens, destroy our infrastructure, they even take the medicines in public hospitals.”

The government and the supporting Frelimo party to be fully functional, so Talapa more: “We say to our German friends, that most Mozambicans want peace and that this peace is threatened by a single political force, namely, Renamo.”

Restart under a bad sign

For the new round of Negotiations in the capital Maputo so it looks not good. The two warring camps have intensified in recent times, their positions, rather, Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama announced that he would only give the guns, if the Integration of his troops in official army guaranteed. The Renamo continues to maintain the power of government in six out of eleven provinces, where they had achieved in the last elections in 2014, the majorities.

“The pressure of Renamo is greater,” confirms observers Egídio Vaz. A peace will only be possible if the government give in on the most important demands of Renamo. “In addition to the Integration of the Renamo-in the official army, a reform of the Constitution, as well as a profound administrative reform, the counting officers to exchange in some provinces power would allow.”

The party heads of key meetings to the success of

Renamo Leader Afonso Dhlakama

Frelimo group boss, Margarida Talapa, however, says shortly before the completion of their charm offensive in Berlin, that some cause for optimism: “As the Frelimo group in the Mozambican Parliament, we give up hope, because our state President, Filipe Nyusi, has stated time and again that he is willing to a personal interview with Renamo chief Afonso Dhlaklama.” In the point Analyst Egídio Vaz, the Frelimo leader, agrees: a Meeting between the two in dispute, an important step was taps for peace in Mozambique. However, such a Meeting would be an extremely difficult undertaking. Dhlakama is holed up with his bodyguard in the mountains of Gorongosa. Previously, it was not a “conservation corridor” and agreed to bring the Renamo leader safely in the capital.

Independent observers continue to expect a tough fight between the warring parties in Mozambique. At the conclusion of the last round of Negotiations, in mid-August, had been disappointed the hopes of the civilian population on a breakthrough in the peace talks bitter. The situation had changed since then, nothing for the Better, says Egídio Vaz.