Mozambique: Previous Peace Agreements Failed Because They Were Overly Politicized - Lourenço Do Rosário

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a report by Mozambique’s AIM news agency, says Mozambican academic Lourenço do Rosário has cautioned that the country’s “inclusive national dialogue” risks repeating past peace-process failures if it becomes dominated by party politics. Speaking in comments cited by the independent daily O País, Do Rosário argued that earlier agreements did not build enough trust among Mozambicans and that political interests have repeatedly overtaken efforts at reconciliation.

The dialogue stems from a document signed in March 2025 by President Daniel Chapo and nine political parties, later converted into law by the Assembly of the Republic. The initiative follows unrest after the 2024 general elections, when protests over allegedly fraudulent results spread across the country and, according to the report, some demonstrations escalated into rioting. Do Rosário said the loss of confidence among political actors predates those elections and should be addressed through self-assessment and clearer identification of competing interests.

He also warned that time is short before the next electoral cycle, including the 2028 calendar, if the dialogue is to influence municipal and national reforms. The academic said Mozambique still needs to define what it intends to correct, including possible electoral, state and legal changes, before moving to concrete outcomes.

The AIM report notes debate over participation in the process, particularly the absence from the organizing committee of Anamola, the party associated with opposition figure Venâncio Mondlane, who was runner-up in the 2024 presidential race. Do Rosário said additional political actors should be included and suggested that those currently taking part should not have the final say on implementing any outcomes.