SADC applauds Mozambican peace deal
08 August 2019 | International
President Hage Geingob, in his capacity as chairperson of SADC, has commended the government of Mozambique for concluding an election peace pledge agreement with the opposition, Renamo.
The president of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, on Tuesday signed a pledge to conduct peaceful elections in October.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Maputo, Geingob described the agreement as one of the defining moments of his tenure as SADC chair.
“As outgoing chair of the SADC family, this final act of my tenure is without doubt one of the highlights of what has been a fulfilling year. Indeed, this is a crowning moment for me and I am pleased to have been invited to witness this momentous occasion.”
The Election Peace Pledge Agreement follows a peace accord marking an official end to the conflict between Renamo and the government that was signed by Nyusi and Momade in Beira on 1 August.
Geingob said this accomplishment by the people of Mozambique was not only a giant step forward for the region, but for the entire continent.
He said the peace accord was in line with the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration of the African Union, in which African heads of state pledged to silence the guns and end all wars on the continent by December 2020.
“Mozambique has shown that silencing the guns is not mere rhetoric. You have walked the walk. To buttress your commitment to silencing the guns, SADC urges all parties to implement the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process and in this regard, stands ready to support Mozambique in her preparations for an international conference to mobilise funds for the DDR process.”
Geingob said the work of achieving lasting peace had just started, but he was confident that Nyusi and Momade would carry out this process to its logical conclusion.
He said as Mozambique moved towards elections in October, SADC stood ready to support the country in line with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and in the spirit of Pan-African solidarity.
“Following cyclones Idai and Kenneth, the people of Mozambique have endured a lot over the past few months. Despite these adversities of devastating proportion, Mozambicans have demonstrated resilience; they have remained hopeful and optimistic about their prospects for a better tomorrow,” said Geingob.
He also commended Nyusi for his foresight, stewardship and exemplary leadership during a very difficult period.
“I always say that one does not make peace with a friend, but one makes peace with an adversary.
“Today marks a glorious triumph for the people of Mozambique, the region and continent at large. For this is the day you say no to violence. This is the day you choose peace to prevail over conflict and this is the day you hold hands and march forward, towards the shared ideals of peace, development and prosperity.”
ELLANIE SMIT
The president of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, on Tuesday signed a pledge to conduct peaceful elections in October.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Maputo, Geingob described the agreement as one of the defining moments of his tenure as SADC chair.
“As outgoing chair of the SADC family, this final act of my tenure is without doubt one of the highlights of what has been a fulfilling year. Indeed, this is a crowning moment for me and I am pleased to have been invited to witness this momentous occasion.”
The Election Peace Pledge Agreement follows a peace accord marking an official end to the conflict between Renamo and the government that was signed by Nyusi and Momade in Beira on 1 August.
Geingob said this accomplishment by the people of Mozambique was not only a giant step forward for the region, but for the entire continent.
He said the peace accord was in line with the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration of the African Union, in which African heads of state pledged to silence the guns and end all wars on the continent by December 2020.
“Mozambique has shown that silencing the guns is not mere rhetoric. You have walked the walk. To buttress your commitment to silencing the guns, SADC urges all parties to implement the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process and in this regard, stands ready to support Mozambique in her preparations for an international conference to mobilise funds for the DDR process.”
Geingob said the work of achieving lasting peace had just started, but he was confident that Nyusi and Momade would carry out this process to its logical conclusion.
He said as Mozambique moved towards elections in October, SADC stood ready to support the country in line with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and in the spirit of Pan-African solidarity.
“Following cyclones Idai and Kenneth, the people of Mozambique have endured a lot over the past few months. Despite these adversities of devastating proportion, Mozambicans have demonstrated resilience; they have remained hopeful and optimistic about their prospects for a better tomorrow,” said Geingob.
He also commended Nyusi for his foresight, stewardship and exemplary leadership during a very difficult period.
“I always say that one does not make peace with a friend, but one makes peace with an adversary.
“Today marks a glorious triumph for the people of Mozambique, the region and continent at large. For this is the day you say no to violence. This is the day you choose peace to prevail over conflict and this is the day you hold hands and march forward, towards the shared ideals of peace, development and prosperity.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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