Mozambique's opposition extends ceasefire indefinitely

Mozambique’s opposition has extended its ceasefire indefinitely.

The leader of the Mozambican Resistance Movement (RENAMO) Afonso Dhlakama, on Thursday extended the truce he first announced in December.

Afonso spoke to journalists via an audio message from his hideout belived to be at the central Gorongosa mountain range where he retreated in 2015 and the party’spokesperson Antonio Muchanga said during the briefing.

“The truce will be extended for a longer period and there will be no more deadlines as it is hoped that the negotiating commissions can work without pressure, so that more or less by the end of this year everything is resolved.”

After announcing the ceasefire in December, he renewed it again for two months in January and March to allow time for peace negotiations with the government.

Renamo and the governing Frelimo party fought a civil war from independence in 1976 until a peace deal was signed in 1992, but problems resurfaced in 2013 and there has been sporadic low-level conflict ever since.

On the eve of October 2014 elections, Renamo and the government signed a ceasefire.

However, Renamo declined to accept the results after it was beaten once more by the ruling Frelimo which has governed the former Portuguese colony since independence.