EU condemns assassination of opposition negotiator in Mozambique peace talks

The European Union has condemned the assassination of Mozambique opposition party Renamo’s representative in the peace talks to allow decentralisation of power in the country.

55-year-old Jeremias Pondeca was shot dead by unknown assailants on Saturday while exercising at a beach in the capital Maputo.

“The European Union condemns this murder. Violence can never be an alternative to peaceful dialogue when trying to reach a sustainable solution in a political conflict,” the EU said in a statement on Monday.

They called on the Mozambican authorities to bring the perpetrators to book and also for both opposition and governing parties to continue with the peace negotiations.

The Maputo police is reported to have no leads in the murder which Renamo believes is politically motivated.

Pondeca was on the sub-committee of the peace talks looking into possible constitutional and legal reform to allow further decentralisation of power in Mozambique. The government is reviewing the proposal from international mediators.

There are fears that the assassination can mar the peace process, but the main opposition party Renamo said later on Monday that it will continue the dialogue.