Former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, has advised the current government to negotiate with armed groups operating in the Cabo Delgado Province to end the conflict that has ravaged the area since 2017.
Chissano, who led Mozambique from 1986 to 2005, headed a successful dialogue between his government and former Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) opposition rebels to end a 16-year war that lasted till 1992.
Speaking on state-owned Radio Mozambique, the 81-year-old said there are “certain types of terrorism” that have ended through negotiations.
He said, “It may be that a leader of that group appears and offers us the opportunity for a dialogue that leads to an end” to armed violence.
He said the causes of the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado must be studied as a way to remedy the social and military crisis in the province.
Former President Joaquim Chissano advocates opening negotiations with armed groups in northern Mozambique
Current President, Filipe Nyusi, has in the past indicated his willingness to dialogue with the insurgents. He, however, noted the absence of a visible head of the armed groups made it difficult to initiate contacts.
Cabo Delgado province has been plagued by violence since 2017, with some attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.
The insurgency has so far left more than 3,000 people dead and displaced over 800,000 others.