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Portuguese gov't praises peace talks in Mozambique

Xinhua, May 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Portuguese government on Friday congratulated the Mozambican government and the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) for resuming talks to guarantee peace.

"Portugal has reiterated, alongside all political actors in Mozambique, its conviction that the pursuit of dialogue is the only way to find lasting consensus to enable the development of the country, the democratic political debate without use of violence and the pursuit of well-being of all Mozambicans," the ministry of foreign affairs said in an official statement.

The designation of negotiation teams is an important step to enable the country to resume political dialogues in a frank and constructive way, the statement added.

Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975. However, the country is still suffering the effects of a civil war that ended in 1992.

Since then, Renamo has accused the government of rigging in all general elections, an accusation rejected by the Maputo administration.

The talks which started in 2013 between the two sides collapsed at the orders of the Renamo leader, Afonso Dhlakama, who accused the government of not being interested in resolving the political crisis in Mozambique.

Renamo wants to govern the central provinces of Sofala, Manica and Zambezia where it had more votes in the 2014 general polls. But the government says the constitution does allow that.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has condemned the force of violence imposed by Renamo and has asked its leader to join talks. Endit