Mozambique's main opposition party and former rebel movement Renamo began disarming members of its armed wing on Tuesday as part of a prospective peace deal that will see the fighters re-integrated into the country's armed forces.

In a symbolic ceremony attended by Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, government representatives and international military experts, four fighters turned in their weapons and officially left their base in the central Gorongosa mountains.

The four fighters headed to a special military centre set up to help them prepare to be reintegrated back into society.

Another 46 militia members are expected to hand in their weapons shortly.

All 5,221 Renamo fighters are to surrender their weapons to the government, a condition for the peace deal that is planned to be signed next month.

That would bring an end to a long peace negotiation process initiated by Renamo's historic leader, Afonso Dhlakama, who died in May last year.

In the mid-1970s, Renamo fought a brutal 16-year civil war against the government that left one million people dead before the conflict ended in 1992.

It transformed into a political party but took up arms again in 2013 to challenge the ruling Frelimo party, which has been in power since Mozambique won independence from Portugal in 1975.

Renamo declared a ceasefire in 2016 under Dhlakama, who pursued a peace deal until his death.

"From this historic ceremony of great symbolism, we hope that the values of peace will prevail and we will not make the mistakes of the past again," Momade said at the ceremony, according to the local press.

The disarmament deal will see some of the militias integrated into the army and police force while others will enter civilian life after receiving financial aid to help them set up.

If the peace deal is signed next month as planned, it will the third between Renamo and the government.

The previous two agreements failed in part because Renamo never surrendered all its weapons and kept some of its men in the woods, accusing the government of not complying with the deal.

The international community is mediating Renamo's disarmament through a military affairs commission, which includes experts from the United Nations and some western countries.

The beginning of disarmament comes two months ahead of a general election and one month before Pope Francis' visit to Mozambique, where he is expected to pray for peace and national reconciliation.

Algeria's army chief rejects pre-conditions for talks
Algiers (AFP) July 30, 2019 - Algeria's powerful army chief Tuesday ruled out accepting any pre-conditions to launching talks to end the country's political crisis, saying there was "no more time to lose".

Algerians have taken to the streets every Tuesday and Friday since February demanding political change, leading to the ouster of veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika on April 2.

But efforts to move towards new presidential elections have bogged down as protesters have continued to demand the departure of key regime figures and an overhaul of the North African country's political system.

"There is no more time to lose," said army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah during a speech to a ceremony, which was broadcast on the television, slamming what he called "pre-conditions which amount to diktats".

A seven-member committee has been set up tasked by interim President Abdelkader Bensalah with discussing arrangements for the next election, after Bouteflika resigned following two decades in power.

But the protest movement has been calling for some measures to be taken before any dialogue can start including the release of people arrested in connection with the demonstrations.

The protesters also want fewer police to be deployed during the weekly demonstrations, and have called for the lifting of blockades put in place every Friday to impede the rallies at the entrances to Algiers.

Bensalah had said he was open to "studying" the demands.

But Salah on Tuesday slammed "poisonous ideas... notably the call to widen the number of detainees, wrongly said to be held for their opinions" and stressed the independence of the judiciary.

The police deployment put in place "for the security of the marches was a measure taken in the interest of the people," he added, insisting the rallies must be properly organised "to avoid them being infiltrated."

An already delayed presidential election set for July 4 was postponed after the only two potential runners -- both little known -- had their candidacies rejected.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Under siege, Somalia moves to reform its army, pay troops
Nairobi (AFP) July 26, 2019
Deployed in one of the world's most dangerous conflicts, Somali soldiers risking their lives daily against Al-Shabaab insurgents were growing weary of being paid months late and shortchanged by their superiors. "We never received the complete amount," a captain told AFP on condition of anonymity, grumbling about "middlemen" who syphon off troops' meagre wages - some as low as $100 a month - and plunder budgets meant for weapons, rations and uniforms. Then in March, his pay arrived on time, in ... read more