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The Peace Process in Mozambique
1984-1992
Dossier MZ-0772
5. Fumbling Towards Direct Talks,
July 1989
In July, cautious progress towards genuine negotiations between the government and the MNR was made, some of it down what turned out to be blind alleys. Both sides accepted the choice of the Kenyan president, the autocratic Daniel arap Moi, as mediator; Renamo held a Congress of sorts in its central Mozambican redoubt of Gorongosa, at which it called for peace talks; Frelimo continued with preparations for its own V Congress; the US State Department practised shuttle diplomacy as it attempted to find a role; and a provincial governor admitted publicly that the war was probably unwinnable and other solutions needed to be found.
Above left: Herman Cohen (1932- ) was Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1989 to 1993 and played a role in the early stages of the peace process, visiting Maputo in July 1989. Right: Daniel Toroitich arap Moi (1924- ) served as president of Kenya (1978-2002) and was a choice for mediator in the peace process; however, his efforts were not successful.
The progress that was made was far from smooth, however. On 12 July, as the rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama was about to leave for Nairobi, the Mozambican army attacked the MNR base in Gorongosa with helicopter gunships; and around the same time the army shot down a light plane which, it was reported, had been sent to take Dhlakama to the Kenyan capital.
Despite these setbacks, on 17 July President Chissano held an important press conference in which he presented the government’s position and described initiatives taken [several of the documents referenced below are transcripts and translations of this event]. This included an announcement that religious leaders were talking to Renamo representatives in Kenya. It was clear that direct contacts would soon follow. Chissano also announced the principles that his government would follow; this was essentially a legitimisation of the 12-point plan circulated in June.
Both Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and arap Moi were named as mediators, and at the end of the month a large Kenyan delegation arrived in Maputo to begin talks with the government.
Navigation for the «Peace Process» Pages
There will be an estimated 46 or 47 pages on the MHN website dedicated to the peace process, from 1984 up to November 1992. They are ordered chronologically. Click on the green button below to jump directly to the page covering the period that you are interested in. Note: at present only pages 1-12 are available, that is, up to January 1990. New pages will be posted regularly in the coming weeks.
MHN Resources
◊ 1 July 1989
Mozambique: peace proposals. Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris] no.389 (1 July 1989), p.1, 3. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 243 kb.
◊ 3 July 1989
Moçambique: será agora? Século de Joanesburgo [Johannesburg] (3 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 53 kb.
◊ 5 July 1989
Mozambique government begins talk of dialogue with rebels. Southscan [London] vol.4 no.26 (5 July 1989), p.197. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 89 kb.
◊ 5 July 1989
US may talk to Mozambique rebels, says Cohen. Southscan [London] (5 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 146 kb.
◊ 6 July 1989
MNR says it will accept bilateral cease-fire. Summary of World Broadcasts [London] (6 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 58 kb. Summary of broadcasts by Radiodifusão Portuguesa in Lisbon and Rádio Moçambique, both on 4 July 1989. President Chissano praised the role played by President Mobutu of Zaire (now DRC) in the Angolan peace process.
◊ 7 July 1989
Mozambique: RENAMO congress bids for peace. Africa Confidential [London] vol.30 no.14 (7 July 1989), p.1-2. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 228 kb. An analysis of Renamo policy after the first ever congress, held in Gorongosa from 5-9 June 1989, at which the organisation agreed to respond positively to Mozambican government peace overtures.
◊ 7 July 1989
Renamo calls for peace talks with Frelimo. Southern Africa Report [Johannesburg] (7 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 216 kb.
◊ 8 July 1989
Mozambique: Renamo prepared for bilateral cease-fire. Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris] (8 July 1989), p.3. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 155 kb. Report on comments by Manuel Frank, the Renamo representative in Portugal, as well as on contacts in Nairobi between the Archbishop of Beira, Jaime Gonçalves, with Raul Domingos. Renamo’s position is to refuse amnesty and not to recognise the ‘existing order’.
◊ 10 July 1989
Armas não são solução para a guerra em Moçambique, diz o governador da província do Niassa. Século de Joanesburgo [Johannesburg] (10 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 35 kb. Júlio Nchola is reported as admitting in a provincial meeting that the conflict cannot be won by military means and that other possible solutions must be explored.
◊ 12 July 1989
E. A. Wayne. US seeks end to Mozambique war. Christian Science Monitor [Boston MA] (12 July 1989), p.8. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 188 kb. Retyped version of the article, distributed through US diplomatic information channels.
◊ 14 July 1989
Mozambique: uphill road to peace. Financial Mail [Johannesburg] (14 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 238 kb.
◊ 16 July 1989
Herman Cohen discute paz em Moçambique. Tempo [Maputo] (16 July 1989), p.3. In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 54 kb.
◊ 17 July 1989
Mozambique: Chissano on meeting between church groups and MNR. Broadcasts by Radio Mozambique and the SABC on 17-18 July, reported in the Summary of World Broadcasts [London]. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 38 kb.
◊ 17 July 1989
Mozambique peace process jolted by assault on rebel HQ. Independent [London] (17 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 30 kb. A FAM helicopter raid on 12 July on the Renamo stronghold in Gorongosa, as Dhlakama prepared to leave for Nairobi, appears to have been the result of poor communication between the government and the military. Abridged by Facts and Reports.
Above: The caption reads «Despite the peace initiatives of President Chissano, the activities of the ‘MNR’ against civilian populations have not stopped». In the picture, President Joaquim Chissano announces the government’s peace principles on 17 July. From Tempo, 8 October 1989, page 27. See below for links to the text of his remarks.
◊ 17 July 1989
Press conference given by His Excellency the President of the Frelimo Party and the People’s Republic of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, on 17 July 1989 in Maputo. Informação Pública [Maputo] (17 July 1989), p.1-6. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 286 kb. Chissano announces that the government has authorised church leaders to contact Renamo to explore the possibility of a negotiated settlement.
◊ 18 July 1989
Jane Perlez. Mozambican government ready to start meeting with guerrillas. New York Times [New York] (18 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 98 kb.
◊ 19 July 1989
Mozambican president on meeting between church groups and MNR delegation: principles for dialogue. Summary of World Broadcasts [London] no.ME/0512 (19 July 1989), p. B/1-B/3. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 213 kb. Translated transcript of a broadcast in Portuguese of the 17 July press conference.
◊ 20 July 1989
S. African report says Mozambican forces shot down MNR official’s plane. Summary of World Broadcasts [London] (20 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 36 kb. Reports an SABC broadcast on 19 July.
◊ 22 July 1989
Empreendidas por Moçambique, Mugabe garante apoio às iniciativas de paz. Notícias [Maputo] (22 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 91 kb.
◊ 22 July 1989
Mozambique: bad timing. The Economist [London] (22 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 169 kb. Refers to the helicopter-borne attack on MNR headquarters as a ‘senseless act of violence’.
◊ 22 July 1989
Mozambique: Chissano says [arap] Moi to act as mediator with MNR leaders. A Radio Mozambique broadcast of 22 July 1989 reported in the Summary of World Broadcasts [London]. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 163 kb.
◊ 22 July 1989
Mozambique: uncertainty. Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris] no.392 (22 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 187 kb.
◊ 22 July 1989
Para a paz e o desenvolvimento do país, irmãos que estão na mata devem voltar para casa: exortação de Joaquim Chissano no início das conversações com Daniel arap Moi. Notícias [Maputo] (22 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 168 kb.
◊ 23 July 1989
Mozambican peace talks cancelled. Sunday Star [Johannesburg] (23 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 54 kb. Reports an MNR attack on Ressano Garcia.
◊ 23 July 1989
Na busca da paz Moçambique tem uma posição compreensível e razoável: Herman Cohen ao deixar Maputo. Tempo [Maputo] (23 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 95 kb. Incomplete clipping.
◊ 23 July 1989
Para o estabelecimento da paz em Moçambique, arap Moi aceitou papel de mediador, anuncia Presidente Joaquim Chissano. Domingo [Maputo] (23 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 80 kb.
◊ 23 July 1989
Roberto Uaene. Esforços para a paz: anunciados princípios para o diálogo com vista a pôr fim à violência. Tempo [Maputo] (23 July 1989), p.3-6. In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 488 kb. Reports the 17 July press conference by Chissano, and includes a box entitled «Princípios para o diálogo».
◊ 24 July 1989
Chissano convida presidentes do Quénia e do Zimbabwé para mediadores da paz. Século de Joanesburgo [Johannesburg] (24 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 29 kb.
◊ 24 July 1989
Mozambique: Chissano and [arap] Moi begin talks on peace initiative. Summary of World Broadcasts [London] no.ME/0516 (24 July 1989), p.B/1. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 164 kb.
◊ 24 July 1989
Mozambique: peace talks open with the MNR. Africa Economic Digest [London] (24 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 70 kb.
◊ 24 July 1989
Renamo acusa linha dura da Frelimo de pôr em causa as negociações para a paz. Século de Joanesburgo [Johannesburg] (24 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 894 kb.
◊ 24 July 1989
Paul Fauvet. Kenya agrees to mediate in Mozambican civil war. Guardian [London] (24 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 72 kb.
Above: A Kenyan delegation (left), headed by President Daniel arap Moi (extreme left) as mediator, opens conversations in Maputo with the Mozambican government in late July as the peace process gets under way. President Chissano is seated on the extreme right.
◊ 26 July 1989
Mozambique: MNR accepts [arap] Moi as mediator with government. Broadcasts by SABC television and Capital Radio in Umtata on 26 July 1989, reported in Summary of World Broadcasts [London]. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 167 kb.
◊ 28 July 1989
Nos debates, delegados devem apontar formas de acabar a guerra, expressam leitores inquiridos pelo Notícias. Notícias [Maputo] (28 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 409 kb. In a rough kind of public opinion survey by the newspaper, readers say that delegates to Frelimo’s V Congress must find a way to end the war.
◊ 28 July 1989
Princípios para a paz apresentados aos delegados. Notícias [Maputo] (28 July 1989). In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 45 kb. Copies of the «principles» announced by President Chissano on 17 July are given to delegates to the V Congress of Frelimo.
◊ 28 July 1989
Talks reveal rebels’ problems of logistics. Southscan [London] vol.4 no.29 (28 July 1989), p.223. In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 496 kb. It was difficult for MNR leaders such as Dhlakama to travel from central Mozambique to Nairobi for talks.
◊ 28 July 1989-3 August 1989
Paul Fauvet. Renamo talks of peace, then loots Maputo’s suburbs. Weekly Mail [Johannesburg] (28 July 1989-3 August 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 85 kb.
◊ 29 July 1989
Kenya: peace maker. Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris] (29 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 59 kb. Mentions Nicholas Biwott and Katana Ngala as key arap Moi advisors and confidantes in the mediation process.
◊ 29 July 1989
Renamo and Zimbabwe. Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris] (29 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 36 kb. Reports that Renamo has accepted Zimbabwe in a mediation role.
◊ 30 July 1989
No processo da paz em Moçambique, arap Moi assume papel de medianeiro. Tempo [Maputo] no.981 (30 July 1989), p.54-55. In Portuguese. Click here to download a PDF file, size 521 kb. arap Moi arrives in Maputo for talks with a 58-member delegation.
◊ 31 July 1989
Chissano’s move deserves support. Herald [Harare] (31 July 1989). In English. Click here to download a PDF file, size 58 kb. An editorial comment.