MOZAMBIQUE: Ex-president Chissano urges dialogue with armed groups

By: Ollus Ndomu

Mozambican former President Joaquim Chissano has urged the government to dialogue with militias causing terror in the Northern region of Cabo Delgado.

Speaking in an interview with Radio Mozambique Wednesday, Chissano said there were “certain types of terrorism” that nations solved through round table meetings:

“It may be that a leader of that group appears and offers us the opportunity for a dialogue that leads to an end.”

The former president further called on the government to examine the causes of gun violence in Cabo Delgado in a bid to address the prevailing military and social crisis in the region.

Chissano who was Mozambican president between 1986 and 2005 is revered in his country for negotiating peace with former Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) opposition rebels that sponsored a civil for 16 years.

Filipe Nyusi, the current President has said his government is willing and available to dialogue with armed groups but disclosed that it had been difficult for their lack of organized leadership.

The insurgency violence which started in 2017 in Cabo Delgado province has claimed 3, 000 lives while leaving more 700, 000 locals internally displaced.