After decades of civil war and failed peace agreements, 2023 marks almost four years since the signing of the Maputo Accord for Peace and National Reconciliation (Maputo Accord). The historic achievement was the result of several years of negotiations between the President of the Republic of Mozambique, H.E. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, and then leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Mr. Afonso Dhlakama and his successor Mr. Ossufo Momade, supported by a small mediation team.  Following the failed Avenida Process in 2016, the Principals agreed on a new, smaller, and a more agile mediation structure, which included then Swiss Ambassador to Mozambique, Mirko Manzoni, now the UN Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Mozambique.

This process leading to the Maputo Accords combined with the subsequent process of implementation, represents an increasing rare example of internationally supported dialogue and mediation leading to definitive peace.  This debate will examine the route to success from networked peace dialogue, through mediation, to support during implementation.  The strategic leadership of the process was specific, purposeful, planned, and invisible, the characteristic of this leadership has been described as ‘without ego and without limits'.  This debate will examine what the characteristics of the Mozambique success were, and how they might be adopted by the existing international norms and approaches to peace dialogue and mediation support. 

Opening Remarks:

• Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Director, Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Speakers:

• Mirko Manzoni, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Mozambique
• Neha Sanghrajka, Senior Political Advisor
• Eduardo Namburete, National mediator and Renamo MP
• Katia Papagianni, Director of Policy and Mediation Support, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

Event Moderator:

• Fleur Heyworth, Head of Gender and Inclusive Security, Geneva Centre for Security Policy