Mozambique’s president meets opposition leader for the first time since 2015
Maputo — Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama met at the weekend for the first time since 2015, raising hopes of an end to violence following a disputed election three years ago. Fighters from the ruling Frelimo and Dhlakama’s Renamo party have clashed sporadically since Renamo challenged the results of the 2014 vote, though the fighting takes place mostly in the remote interior, making it difficult to gauge its scale and casualties. Nyusi and Dhlakama met at the Gorongosa mountain district, where Dhlakama has been in hiding with hundreds of fighters since 2015. "The two leaders discussed and agreed on the next steps in the peace process, which they hope will be completed by the end of the year," Nyusi’s office said in statement. Competition over natural resources could be exacerbating unrest: Mozambique is on the verge of developing huge offshore gas reserves which could transform one of the world’s poorest countries into a middle-income state. Me...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.