Mozambique rebel leader announces truce extension

Mozambique's main opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama announced on Tuesday the extension of the current 7-day ceasefire, which ends on Wednesday, by 60 more days.

The initial 7 days of truce were reached by President Filipe Nyusi and Dhlakama last week.

"In the first announcement we advanced the possibility of prorogating the days in case everything ran as expected, from the bottom of my heart, I want to guarantee that armed men from the main opposition will not attack positions from the government armed forces," said Dlakama in an conference call.

The 60 new days of no attacks bring additional hope that both delegations can finally reach a long-lasting peace agreement restoring the easiness Mozambicans were used to travel around the country without waiting for convoys protected by police forces.

Dhlakama said he felt he could take this move because he also had guarantees that government armed forces will not launch any attacks to positions from the armed men above all they will not kidnap members from the main opposition.

According to Dhlakama, this move will create conditions for a fruitful dialogue between the involved parts and accelerate negotiations for long lasting peace.

Attacks will also stop to key infrastructures such as the rail line that transport mineral coal explored by the mining company Vale in Tete to Beira and Nacala ports from where it get exported. Endit