Ossufo Momade
Ossufo Momade | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Leader of RENAMO | |
| Assumed office 3 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Afonso Dhlakama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 January 1961 Island of Mozambique, Nampula Province Portuguese Mozambique |
| Political party | RENAMO |
Ossufo Momade (born 30 January 1961) is a Mozambican rebel and politician, and president of the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), the main opposition party of Mozambique since the January 17, 2019 . He interimly assumed the presidency of the party after the death of its leader Afonso Dhlakama in May 2018 until he was elected president of the party at an internal congress held at the beginning of the following year.[1]
Early life
Momade was born on the Island of Mozambique when the region of Mozambique was still a Portuguese colony. He is the son of Ossufo Momade Sr. and Alide Zainabo. He attended Luís de Camões Elementary School, and after completing fourth grade in 1973, he moved to the Pêro da Covilhã Commercial School. In 1978 at the age of 17 Momade enlisted in the military.[2]
Civil War
During the outbreak of the Mozambican Civil War Momade was kidnapped by anti-communist rebels.[3] Eventually he was persuaded to join the rebel organization called RENAMO and their leader Afonso Dhlakama. Momade eventually became the comander of the rebel's operations in the central provinces of Manica and Sofala.[3]
Political career
In 2007 Momade was elected secretary general of the party of RENAMO,[3] a position he held until 2013 when he vacated it to Manuel Bissopo to become the appointed head of the defence and security department of RENAMO.[2] After the death of party leader Afonso Dhlakama, Momade was made intern head of the part, a position he held until he was formally elected chief in January 2019.[1]
On 26 June 2019 Momade was formally anounced as RENAMO's candidate for the 2019 Mozambican general election.[4]
Peace with Mozambique govern
On August 1, 2019, President Filipe Nyusi and Momade signed a peace agreement bringing an end to to the six year.[5][6] During the signing ceremony, Momade and Nyusi also embraced each other as well.[6] The signing of the peace took place at RENAMO's remote military base in the Gorongosa mountains.[6] After the agreement was signed, the last remained RENAMO fighters surrendered their weapons.[7] Momade told the Associated Press “We will no longer commit the mistakes of the past.”[7] He also stated “We are for a humanized and dignified reintegration and we want the international community to help make that a reality.”[7]
References
- ^ a b "Ossufo Momade eleito presidente no final de congresso da RENAMO" (in Portuguese). DW. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Mozambique: Who is Ossufo Momade Renamo's newly appointed interim leader?". Club Mozambique. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ a b c Caldeira, Adérito (7 May 2018). "Homem de confiança do presidente Dhlakama, Ossufo Momade poderá ser o sucessor". Tema de Fundo (in Portuguese). Verdade. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "Renamo formalises Ossufo Momade's candidacy for president of Mozambique – photos". Club Mozambique. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ https://www.france24.com/en/20190801-mozambique-ceasefire-peace-renamo-civil-war
- ^ a b c https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/mozambique-president-renamo-leader-sign-peace-deal-190801115411693.html
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
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