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Mozambique: Filipe Nyusi in the midst of a ministerial purge

Filipe Nyusi

In Mozambique, President Filipe Nyusi continues his dismissal operation within the government. This time, Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário is paying the price, along with six other ministers.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi is currently changing the political landscape of his country. The Mozambican head of state replaced the interior and defense ministers last November with two soldiers. This had been the starting point of a crisis within the presidential party, the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO). poco x3 pro price tunisia

This Thursday, a statement from the Mozambican presidency announced the dismissal of Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário after seven years in office. Deputy Health Minister Graça Cardoso was also fired.

The day before, Wednesday March 2, another press release from the presidency announced the dismissal of six ministers : Adriano Maleiane (Finances and Economy), Ernesto Max Tonela (Energy and Mines), Carlos Mesquita (Industry and Trade), Carlos Siliya (Fighters), João Machatine Laimone (Infrastructure) and Augusta Maíta, the Minister of Waters.

President Filipe Nyusi took all the course watchers and did not insist on explaining his decision. He has not, for the moment, announced the names of the replacements of the sacked ministers, nor the date of appointment of future ministers.

Filipe Nyusi alone against… no one

If the presidency of Mozambique had, in half-words, indicated that the replacement of the two ministers of Defense and the Interior in November had been made for security reasons, it is difficult to know which fly stung Nyusi. According to political observers, the ministerial reshuffle was not a priority, the government benefiting from a favorable context after the recapture of the north by the Mozambican army - with the help of Rwanda and the SADC.

On the other hand, Filipe Nyusi is under fire from critics. Blame it on its propensity to surround itself with more and more soldiers, but also because of the embarrassing "hidden debt" trial.

Above all, the president of Mozambique is on the ballot within his own party, the Mozambique Liberation Front. Many executives of the presidential party denounce the "follow-manship" of the president, especially since his choices to appoint new Ministers of Defense and Interior.

Nyusi had, in fact, preferred two independent military cadres trained abroad, rather than their superiors or members of the presidential party.

However, the Mozambican president benefits from a favorable context. Re-elected for a second term in 2018, RENAMO candidate and opposition leader Alfonso Dhlakama died. In October 2021, the head of RENAMO's armed wing, Mariano Nhongo, also died.

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