The government of Mozambique has signed a ceasefire with the Renamo opposition party in a bid to end hostilities ahead of elections in October.<\/p>\n
The deal follows two years of low-level clashes between armed members of Renamo and government forces.<\/p>\n
In 2013 Renamo withdrew from a peace deal signed more than 20 years earlier which had ended a protracted civil war.<\/p>\n
Last week, as part of the negotiations, the government began releasing Renamo prisoners captured in recent fighting.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mr Macuiane told reporters that the “definitive agreement” came into operation as of 22:00 local time (2000 GMT) on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“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”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
AFP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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