Agreement of the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities

Country/entity
Mozambique
Region
Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name
Agreement of the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities
Date
1 Aug 2019
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Government/territory
Peace process
Mozambique process - recent
Parties
For Mozambique:
Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique

For RENAMO:
Ossufo Momade, Coordinator of the Political Commission of the Mozambican National Resistance - RENAMO
Third parties
-
Description
This document commits the signatories to cease military hostilities permanently and emphasizes the adoption of dialogue as the primary mechanism for conflict resolution, underpinning the mutual dedication to disarmament, demobilization, and the socio-economic reintegration of combatants. It outlines specific obligations for both parties to prevent acts of violence, ensure the smooth implementation of disarmament and reintegration processes, and introduces structured mechanisms for oversight and verification. Enacted within the broader context of Mozambique's pursuit of socio-economic development and national reconciliation, the agreement reflects a concerted effort to stabilize the nation through principles of democracy and human rights, while also detailing protocols for conflict resolution and safeguarding political figures and civilian populations.
Main category
D. Not to recruit, whether voluntarily or by force, or mobilise personnel of any gender or age for its armed contingent;

Women, girls and gender

Participation

No specific mention.

Equality

No specific mention.

Particular groups of women

No specific mention.

International law

No specific mention.

New institutions

No specific mention.

Violence against women

No specific mention.

Transitional justice

No specific mention.

Institutional reform
Institutional reform→DDR, army, parastatal or rebel forces
3.2. Responsibilities of Renamo
Renamo undertakes to respect all dispositions of the present Accord, namely:
...
D. Not to recruit, whether voluntarily or by force, or mobilise personnel of any gender or age for its armed contingent;
Development

No specific mention.

Implementation

No specific mention.

Other

No specific mention.

AGREEMENT ON THE DEFINITIVE CESSATION OF MILITARY HOSTILITIES

Preamble

His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, and His Excellency Ossufo Momade, President of Renamo, here onwards referred to as “The Parties”;

Committed to a future of peace and reconciliation in Mozambique;

Determined to end the military hostilities and prevent their resumption;

Committed to giving primacy to permanent dialogue as a means of conflict resolution;

In recognition that peace and national reconciliation are pre-conditions for socio-economic development;

Aware of the consensus achieved on the agenda regarding the military affairs, which led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that establishes the process of Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Socioeconomic Reintegration (DDR) of the Renamo armed force as well as the incorporation of part thereof in the Mozambique Armed Defence Forces and in the Police of the Republic of Mozambique;

Guided by the principles of the Democratic State under the Rule of Law and by the respect for Human Rights, the Parties hereby agree in the following terms:

1. Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities

The Parties declare the definitive cessation of all military hostilities and commit themselves to ensure that all armed groups or institutions under their control scrupulously comply with all the provisions established herein.

2. Scope of Application

The present Accord is applicable in all national territory.

3. Responsibilities of Parties

The parties undertake:

A. To refrain from hostile acts or military attacks against forces, positions or properties of the other Party and of civilian population in general;

B. Not to harass or take hostage members of the other party who are authorised to bear arms;

C. Not to harass or take hostage members of the forces of defence and security carrying

out missions of security or protection of the civilian population;

D. To refrain from placing land/water mines or employing firearms, incendiary devices

and preventing their removal, deactivation or dismantling;

E. To refrain from using hostile propaganda, including issuing defamatory statements, untruths or derogatory language against the other Party;

F. Not to practise violent acts of any nature against members of either Party;

G. To refrain from practices of torture or or degrading treatment of members of either Party;

H. Not to practise acts of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political objectives.

3.1. Responsibilities of the Government

The Government undertakes to respect all dispositions of the present Accord, namely:

A. To refrain from assuming threatening positions or surrounding Renamo bases which are known by the Military Affairs Commission/GTCDDR during the process of their dismantling under the Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs;

B. To notify, within a minimum period of 5 days, of its approach within a radius of 2 km of a Renamo base known by the Military Affairs Commission/GTCDDR, prior to its dismantling;

C. To facilitate the transit of Renamo armed personnel which travel to the Accommodation Centers for the purposes of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration;

D. To facilitate the free return of people possibly displaced by military hostilities;

E. To mobilise internal and external resources to facilitate the process of socio-economic Reintegration of armed elements of Renamo displaced under the Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs.

3.2. Responsibilities of Renamo

Renamo undertakes to respect all dispositions of the present Accord, namely:

A. To refrain from violent acts of armed attacks against civilian population and its properties, as well as positions of the Forces of Defence and Security;

B. Not to acquire, upgrade or distribute weapons, ammunition or any other war material;

C. To refrain from creating or occupying new positions in the national territory or committing offensive acts;

D. Not to recruit, whether voluntarily or by force, or mobilise personnel of any gender or age for its armed contingent;

E. To facilitate the free transit of people and goods and to refrain from obstructing this right of citizens;

F. To refrain from blocking or creating checkpoints;

G. To complete the process of providing the Military Affairs Commission/Joint Technical Group for Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (GTCDDR) with updated, trustworthy, and verifiable information regarding the number, location, organisation and composition of any remaining bases, including personnel, weapons

in storage/hides or in the possession of its personnel, explosive devices, mines and other war artefacts, within 10 days of the entry into force of this Accord;

H. To collaborate with the Military Affairs Commission in the pursuit of disarmament and demobilisation of personnel and deactivation of artefacts that eventually have not been completed within the period stipulated in the revised calendar of the memorandum;

I. To notify the other party, at least 5 days in advance, of the passage of its armed elements to the Accommodation Centres within the scope of the DDR;

J. To collaborate with GTCDDR, supported by the International Community, in the conclusion of DDR within the deadlines stipulated in the calendar of the Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs;

K. To facilitate the process of dismantling bases and clearing landmines or undetonated explosive devices;

L. To facilitate the delivery of the list of its personnel to be subject to socio-economic reintegration, within a period of 10 days.

4. Implementation Structures of the Accord on Cessation of Military Hostilities

A. The implementation of this Accord is done by the structures created under the Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs, signed by the President of the Republic and by the President of Renamo, on 6 August 2018, namely the Military Affairs Commission (CAM);

the Joint Technical Group on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (GTCDDR);

the Joint Monitoring and Verification Team;

or by any other structure agreed upon by the Parties.

B. The functions of these structures are defined in the Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs as well as on the approved Terms of Reference, which may be updated by consensus of the Parties.

5. Dismantling of the Bases and Positions Related to the Military Hostilities

The dismantling of the bases and positions related to the military hostilities must be made in compliance with the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs and concluded by 21 August of the current year.

6. Protection Force of the President of Renamo

A. The security of the President, of other Senior Leaders, and of the facilities of Renamo is ensured by a contingent of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, responsible for the protection of Relevant Individuals and constituted from elements selected under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs.

B. The quartering, as well as the respective logistical assurance, is the responsibility of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique.

7. Conflict Resolution

The parties undertake to give primacy to dialogue in the resolution of queries or conflicts resulting from the interpretation or implementation of the present Agreement.

8. Annexes

The Annexes to the present Agreement, which are an integral part thereof, include the following documents:

i. Memorandum of Understanding on Military Affairs, signed by the President of the Republic and by the President of Renamo on 6 August 2018;

ii. Homologated Terms of Reference.