Implementation Structures

Since the start of the peace talks in 2016, the Principals – President Nyusi and the leaders of Renamo, the late Afonso Dhlakama and his successor Ossufo Momade – have led the process, steering it at each critical juncture. They jointly agreed on the implementation structures to support the different phases of the process. These structures, composed of both Government and Renamo officials in addition to national and international experts and support staff, help to embed national ownership and build consensus on key issues. The structures are detailed below:

  • Signatories

The signatories of the Maputo Accord, also referred to as the Principals, namely, His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique and His Excellency Ossufo Momade, leader of Renamo, are responsible for the political leadership, decision-making and oversight of the implementation of the Maputo Accord.

  •  Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Mozambique (UN PESG)

Appointed on 8 July 2019, the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Mozambique (UN PESG), Mirko Manzoni, provides good offices in facilitating the dialogue between the Government of Mozambique and Renamo, as well as supporting the implementation and the overall monitoring of the Maputo Accord. The UN PESG carries out this function alongside the Senior Advisor, Neha Sanghrajka. Prior to this appointment, Mr Manzoni served as Ambassador of Switzerland to Mozambique. 

  • Contact Group

Established in 2017, the mandate of the Contact Group includes encouraging the Principals to implement the Maputo Accord in full and assisting the Principals in mobilising resources and support for the successful implementation of the Maputo Accord. The UN PESG, Mirko Manzoni, chairs the Contact Group. Its members are the Ambassadors of Switzerland,  Botswana, China, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. 

  • Peace Process Support Secretariat (PPS)

Established in 2017, PPS supports the implementation of all aspects of the Maputo Accord, signed by the President of the Republic of Mozambique and the Leader of Renamo in 2019. PPS, with its partner, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), also manages the Basket Fund, which is the dedicated mechanism that channels assistance provided by partners from the international community to support PPS and the peace process.

The Board of the Basket Fund is responsible for guiding PPS in the performance of its functions. The Board is composed of the UN PESG, a representative of UNOPS and the representative of the donors.

  • Commission on Decentralisation 

The Commission on Decentralisation was formed in 2017 to design a proposal for a new framework for decentralisation. The Commission develops legislation on decentralisation and proposes potential revisions to the Constitution through the approval of legislation on decentralisation through the Assembly of the Republic.

International expert technical assistance is provided to the Commission on Decentralisation by Chaloka Beyani and Muna Ndulo (with the support of Willis Otieno).

  • Military Affairs Commission (MAC)

The Military Affairs Commission (MAC) was established in 2017 and has the overall responsibility to supervise and monitor the implementation of DDR and Placement. 

International expert technical assistance was provided to the MAC by Julian Hottinger and Buenaventura Pascual (with the support of Georg Stein).

  • Joint Technical Group on DDR (JTGDDR)

Established in 2018, the Joint Technical Group for DDR (JTGDDR) is composed of six national experts whose role is to provide technical assistance, particularly with regard to monitoring disarmament. 

  • International Component (IC)

The International Component (IC), composed of military experts from select countries, supports the work of the JTGDDR and JTGMV, particularly in the areas of planning and verification.

  • Joint Technical Group on Monitoring and Verification (JTGMV)

The Joint Technical Group for Monitoring and Verification (JTGMV) was formed in 2017 and is responsible for the monitoring and verification of DDR processes. 

  • Joint Technical Group on Placement (JTGP)

The Joint Technical Group for Placement (JTGP) was established in 2018 to support the process of integrating DDR beneficiaries into the armed forces of Mozambique.