Opposition Urges Government to Promote Human Rights
Maputo, 5 Jan (AIM) – Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, has urged the government to use Mozambique’s position as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to promote human rights, and to combat terrorism.
A statement signed by Renamo leader Ossufo Momade also demanded that the government change its position on the war in Ukraine. To date, Mozambique has refused to condemn the Russian invasion.
Momade noted that the great majority of the 192 countries which elected Mozambique to the Security Council have opposed the Russian aggression against Ukraine. A continued position of neutrality, he argued, could be “counter-productive”.
The country’s second opposition party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), took a similar position. Its spokesperson, Ismael Nhacucue, urged the government to toughen its stance on the war in Ukraine.
It should not remain neutral when one country invades another, given that the Security Council’s role is to defend international peace and security.
The MDM also believed that membership of the Security Council gives Mozambique an excellent opportunity to seek more partnerships to combat the terrorism that has plagued the northern province of Cabo Delgado since 2017.
Nhacucue said the MDM is willing to assist the government in this task. “The MDM is a partner of the government”, he claimed. “Through its parliamentary group, it has contributed to improving public policies.
Momade’s statement said Renamo “expects Mozambique to learn to respect human rights”, claimed that “the recent past has shown us unacceptable practices, when members of Renamo and of civil society, including academics and journalists, have been subjected to violence, or removed from the world of the living”.
He also hoped that the Security Council will continue to support the Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) of the former members of the Renamo militia.
Mozambique’s stated aims during its two year term of office on the Security Council are divided into five themes – the promotion of international peace (particularly peace on the African continent); the nexus between climate, peace and security; the role of women and youth in peace-keeping; the fight against terrorism and other evils that threaten international peace and security; and the search for greater space for developing countries in international decision making, through the reform of multilateral institutions.
(AIM)
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