Maputo - Invited international military observers arrived in Maputo on Tuesday ahead of the implementation of the agreement to end military hostilities between the Mozambican government and the former rebel movement Renamo.
The first to arrive was a contingent of high ranking South African soldiers amid a strong presence of Mozambican soldiers at the Maputo International Airport.
The government and Renamo agreed to invite Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Cape Verde, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States of America to send forces to the observer mission, who will supervise the cease fire, disarmament and reintegration of the Renamo forces into the Mozambican society.
The team will consist of 30 international and 70 national observers, among whom 35 from the ruling party Frelimo and the other half from Renamo.
It was agreed that they will be in Mozambique for 135 renewable days.
The arrival of the military international observers came one day after the Mozambican Parliament had ratified the agreement on the cessation of hostilities.
It was signed by the heads of the delegations to the dialogue between the government and Renamo on August 24, and was confirmed by President Armando Guebuza and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama at a ceremony in Maputo last Friday.
The southern African country will hold its fifth general elections in October after its independence from Portugal in 1975, to elect its fourth president replacing the current Guebuza.
However, although Dhlakama is now living freely in Maputo, the leader of Renamo has not yet started his campaign for the presidential elections due to take place in Mozambique on October 15.
The official campaign began on August 31 and Dhlakama's two rivals, Filipe Nyusi of the ruling Frelimo, and Daviz Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement have been tirelessly speaking at rallies, appearing on motorcades, and speaking to the voters in the northern and central provinces. – SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua
