The government of Mozambique has signed a ceasefire with the Renamo opposition party in a bid to end hostilities ahead of elections in October.
The deal follows two years of low-level clashes between armed members of Renamo and government forces.
In 2013 Renamo withdrew from a peace deal signed more than 20 years earlier which had ended a protracted civil war.
Last week, as part of the negotiations, the government began releasing Renamo prisoners captured in recent fighting.
The ceasefire was signed on Sunday night in the capital Maputo between Renamo’s chief negotiator Saimon Macuiane and the government after almost a year of negotiations.
Mr Macuiane told reporters that the “definitive agreement” came into operation as of 22:00 local time (2000 GMT) on Sunday.
“We have begun a new era for the country,” Mr Macuiane said, describing the ceasefire as an “important step towards national reconciliation… and a durable peace”.
Correspondents say that Renamo has been fighting a low-level insurgency since party leader Afonso Dhlakama returned to the bush in 2012, two decades after he agreed a peace deal with the governing Frelimo party.
Sunday’s late night agreement follows a general peace agreement between the two sides a week ago – including a deal over the integration of Renamo’s remaining members into the Mozambique security forces.
AFP
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