[6] Peace negotiations began in December 2016 when President Filipe Nyusi indicated his willingness to engage in direct dialogue with the then leader of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, in order to resolve tensions that resulted in armed violent conflict restarting in 2013.

[14] The bill provides administrative and financial autonomy for municipal, provincial and district bodies, while issues of national interest such as defence, security and natural resources will continue to be managed at the central level.

[16] Following the signing, President Nyusi said “the memorandum clearly outlines the roadmap for military affairs, the subsequent and decisive steps towards achieving an effective and lasting peace with regard to the disarmament, demobilisation and integration of Renamo’s armed wing”.

[18] The agreement builds on the MoU on Military Affairs signed in August 2018, with both parties reaffirming their desire to see a future of peace and reconciliation in Mozambique and prioritization of dialogue as a means for settling grievances.

[23] Since the start of the peace negotiations in 2016, the Principals – President Nyusi, and the leaders of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama and his successor Ossufo Momade, have jointly agreed the implementation structures to support the different phases of the process.

In line with the UN Secretary General’s commitment and strategy to achieving gender parity across the UN system,[29] 48% of the staff at the Peace Process Secretariat are women, with 71% female representation on the senior management team.