Mozambique names ex-rebels to army command

Mozambique has appointed three top commanders from Renamo, the largest opposition party and a former rebel movement, to key army command posts as part of peace-building efforts.

The defence ministry hailed the move, which came out of an agreement between Renamo's interim leader Momade Ossufo and President Filipe Nyusi in July, as a step towards a comprehensive peace.

But Renamo criticised the move as not going far enough, saying it was supposed to be 14 of its commanders, not just three.

The three, all generals, were appointed director of operations, director of military information and director of communications.

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.

Violence erupted again in 2013 until Renamo declared a unilateral truce in 2016.

"The appointments are the result of the agreements reached between (Nyusi)... and the Renamo coordinator," the ministry said.

The deal would help "trigger the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of Renamo" fighters into the regular army, it added.

As part of the peace negotiations, Renamo's armed wing is being integrated into the armed forces.

Renamo said that unless all 14 of its officers were appointed, it would only ensure the "continuity of instability".

Peace talks with Nyusi's government began in 2016 in a process initiated by Renamo's veteran leader Afonso Dhlakama, who died in May last year.

The ruling Frelimo party has been in power since Mozambique won independence from Portugal in 1975.

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