The first meeting between the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, in Maputo in February 2015. The Superiors pledged to use peaceful means, such as dialog, to overcome the differences between the parties.
Photo: Presidency of the Republic

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, at a meeting with the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at Renamo headquarters in Gorongosa, in August 2017. During the meeting, the Superiors reached an agreement on key elements for decentralization, including the election of governors in the 2019 elections. The decentralization bill was unanimously approved by parliament in May 2018. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, at a meeting with the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at Renamo headquarters in Gorongosa, in August 2017. The meeting represented an important step towards creating a consensus on the decentralization process. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, at a meeting with the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at Renamo headquarters in Gorongosa in August 2017. Also pictured are mediators Mirko Manzoni, Neha Sanghrajka and Eduardo Namburete. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Renamo President, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at a meeting with mediators Mirko Manzoni, Neha Sanghrajka and Eduardo Namburete in Gorongosa in February 2018. The mediators often went to Renamo headquarters to ensure that the dialogue between the Superiors was maintained. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Renamo President, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at a meeting with mediators Mirko Manzoni, Neha Sanghrajka and Eduardo Namburete in Gorongosa in February 2018. The mediators often went to Renamo headquarters to ensure that the dialogue between the Superiors was maintained. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Soldiers guard Afonso Dhlakama's coffin during his funeral ceremony in Beira. Renamo's long-time president died unexpectedly on May 3, 2018. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, shakes hands with the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, during a meeting in Chimoio on June 2, 2019. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, accompanied by members of the Military Affairs Commission, at the signing of the Agreement for the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities, in Gorongosa, on August 1, 2019. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, accompanied by members of the Military Affairs Commission, at the signing of the Agreement for the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities, in Gorongosa, on August 1, 2019. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, accompanied by members of the Military Affairs Commission, at the signing of the Agreement for the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities, in Gorongosa, on August 1, 2019. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, accompanied by members of the Military Affairs Commission, at the signing of the Agreement for the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities, in Gorongosa, on August 1, 2019. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, accompanied by members of the Military Affairs Commission, at the signing of the Agreement for the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities, in Gorongosa, on August 1, 2019. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, accompanied by Mirko Manzoni (left), Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Mozambique, and Ignazio Cassis (right), Head of the Swiss Federal Department of International Relations, at the signing ceremony of the Maputo Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement, on August 6, 2019, in Maputo. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, witness the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants in Dondo District, Sofala Province, in June 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The Senior Advisor for Political Affairs of the Peace Process, Neha Sanghrajka, at a meeting with members of the Joint DDR Technical Group at the Accommodation Centers in Dondo District, Sofala Province, in June 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The Senior Advisor for Political Affairs of the Peace Process, Neha Sanghrajka, at a meeting with members of the Joint DDR Technical Group at the Accommodation Centers in Dondo District, Sofala Province, in June 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, arrive at the Accommodation Center for the DDR process in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Several ex-combatants are eagerly awaiting their chance to go through the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, at a meeting with the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at Renamo headquarters in Gorongosa, in August 2017. The meeting represented an important step towards creating a consensus on the decentralization process. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, greet each other upon arrival at the Accommodation Center in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, witness the disarmament of ex-combatants in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Members of the Joint DDR Technical Group summarize DDR activities during a presentation in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) activities were adapted in early 2020 to include COVID-19 prevention measures, including physical distancing, wearing masks and reinforcing hygiene measures. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Women ex-combatants prepare to participate in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process in Vunduzi, Gorongosa, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

An ex-combatant prepares to hand over her weapon during the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process in Vunduzi, Gorongosa, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

140 women combatants were registered in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, witness the disarmament of ex-combatants in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Renamo President Ossufo Momade addresses former Renamo combatants at the end of the first phase of the DDR process in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in September 2020. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

A DDR beneficiary accesses services at the accommodation center in Murrupula, Nampula province, 2021.

DDR beneficiaries are preparing to embark on their journey home after demobilization at the accommodation center in Montepuez, Cabo Delgado province, in 2022.

The United Nations Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to Mozambique, Mirko Manzoni, and Neha Sanghrajka, talk to a DDR beneficiary who has just received his reinsertion material at the accommodation center in Mocuba, Zambezia province, in 2022.

Women combatants preparing to take part in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process in Vunduzi in September 2020.

A meeting of the Peace Clubs will be held in Angónia, Tete province, in December 2022.

Mirko Manzoni, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Mozambique, at the official closing ceremony of the disarmament and demobilization phase, June 2023, Maputo.

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, speaks at the official closing ceremony of the disarmament and demobilization phase, June 2023, Maputo.

Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, speaking at the official closing ceremony of the disarmament and demobilization phase, June 2023, Maputo.

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the leader of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, at the official closing ceremony of the disarmament and demobilization phase, June 2023, Maputo.

The Minister of Combatants, Josefina Mpelo, receives the final list of all 5,221 DDR beneficiaries from the Military Affairs Commission, in order to begin the process of granting pensions to eligible beneficiaries on June 24, 2023.

The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mirko Manzoni, and the Senior Advisor, Neha Sanghrajka, speak with Renamo leader, Ossufo Momade, in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in June 2023.

Renamo leader Ossufo Momade hands over Renamo's last weapon to the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, in a symbolic gesture of the end of the disarmament and demobilization phase of the Maputo Agreement. Vunduzi, Sofala province, June 2023.

RENAMO leader Ossufo Momade, the Personal Envoy and the Chief Advisor at the accommodation center in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in June 2023.

Mozambican musicians come together to launch the song and music video for the "Peace is Our Culture" campaign. The song and video were creatively directed by Stewart Sukuma and featured artists from all over the country. Maputo, June 2023.

A member of the Joint Technical Monitoring and Verification Group talks to DDR beneficiaries in the meeting area in Vunduzi, Sofala province, June 2023.

President Nyusi, Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, the Personal Envoy and the Senior Advisor with members of the Peace Process Secretariat team at the accommodation center in Vunduzi, Sofala province, in June 2023.

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, at a meeting with the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at the Vunduzi Administrative Post, Gorongosa District, in February 2018. During the meeting, the Superiors discussed key issues on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of Renamo fighters. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, at a meeting with the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at the Vunduzi Administrative Post, Gorongosa District, in February 2018. During the meeting, the Superiors discussed key issues on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of Renamo fighters. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, accompanied by the then President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, at a meeting with Renamo women combatants. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

In the Accommodation Centres where Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) takes place, gender-segregated accommodation and access to sanitary facilities and medical services are offered. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, in a meeting with members of the Military Affairs Commission and with mediators Mirko Manzoni and Neha Sanghrajka. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the President of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama, in a meeting with mediators Mirko Manzoni, Neha Sanghrajka, Jonathan Powell and Eduardo Namburete. The discussions focused on resolving outstanding issues related to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, the President of Renamo, Ossufo Momade, and the President of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, Daviz Simango, with mediators Mirko Manzoni and Neha Sanghrajka. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

Aerial view of a typical Accommodation Centre where Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) takes place. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The disarmament zone is the place where ex-combatants take their weapons to be deactivated, registered, collected and stored. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

The reintegration zone is the last phase of the process at the Accommodation Center. Here, the ex-combatants receive the necessary support to cover their immediate basic needs while they begin their reintegration into society. Photo: Secretariat for the Peace Process

A family member receives a reintegration opportunity that demonstrates the technical experience they have acquired through a vocational training opportunity.

Local artists and community members take part in a collective painting of a mural inspired by peace in the district of Chibabava, Sofala province.v

A DDR beneficiary returns home to his family and begins his reintegration journey. Dondo, Sofala province.

A daughter of a DDR beneficiary is taking part in a technical-vocational training course through an innovative project dedicated to life skills training, employability, business management and green technologies, located in Pemba, Cabo Delgado.

The daughter of a DDR beneficiary has taken advantage of her reintegration opportunity and her new business skills to run an agricultural input store in Nhamatanda, Sofala province, bringing agricultural inputs closer to home for the benefit of her community.

As part of the Peace Clubs' work, a tree is planted in Metuchira district, Sofala province. Since 2014, Peace Clubs have been formed by religious and community leaders in Mozambique to promote non-violent means of conflict resolution at a local level.