Uma outra paz seria possível? Processo e negociação para o alcance da paz em Moçambique, 1992-2019

Abstract

This research aims to understand the construction of narratives surrounding historical processes in Mozambique with regard to the peace process, from 1992 to 2019, a period in which new political and social contexts raised questions and revealed tensions surrounding the agreements that were established. Mozambique is a country that experienced an armed conflict lasting sixteen years, directly related to the Civil War, which plunged the country into a profound internal crisis for more than two decades. The resolution of this conflict only occurred in 1994, with the holding of the first general elections, under the supervision of the United Nations (UN), the international community, and the Community of Sant’Egidio. Reflections on reconciliation and on post-conflict peacebuilding processes have gained prominence in several studies across the African continent. However, in the case of Mozambique, such analyses, although not recent, remain insufficiently systematized. This is partly due to the fact that the existing literature tends to focus more exhaustively on attempts to reach agreements between the parties to the conflict, to the detriment of broader long-term challenges related to the implementation of these agreements and the involvement of third-party (multiple) actors in the process. The study highlights that the effective consolidation of peace in Mozambique will not be possible if it continues to be centered on bipartisanship between FRELIMO and RENAMO, to the exclusion of other actors that constitute the Mozambican political landscape, as well as the population itself, which is part of the structural dynamics of the democratic system. The study argues that genuine peacebuilding should not be limited solely to the notion of national reconciliation, nor should it remain confined to an exclusively electoralist vision of peacebuilding aimed merely at enabling elections, as has frequently occurred. Discussions of peace in Mozambique are often restricted to a narrow circle of two key actors FRELIMO and RENAMO, both former belligerent parties. While it is acknowledged that it is not possible to address the peace negotiation process without referencing these actors, it is equally evident that analytical space must be opened to include other stakeholders. It is precisely on this point that the present study seeks to reflect, with the aim of identifying other voices that could contribute to the negotiation process and to the achievement of sustainable peace.