Whilst attending the recent US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington held last weekend, Mozambique’s President Armando Guebuza was confident that a Peace Deal just signed with the official opposition party Renamo will put an end to the occasional outbreak of hostilities witnessed over the past few months. “Yes, I want to believe that from what I saw in terms of their registering for parliament” that Renamo will respect the peace agreement”, he said.

Although situated well away from Mozambique’s tourist resorts, the sporadic attacks in the county’s central province of Sofala has caused some disruption to transport, including the shipment of coal by rail from mines to the coast. In terms of the peace agreement, senior Renamo military officials will be allowed to retain their weapons as part of the national army. The leader of Renamo, Alfonso Dhlakama has now registered as a presidential candidate for the October elections and this commitment is seen as a signal to his follows to end any fighting in the country.