On January 16, 2019, the main opposition party, the RENAMO (Mozambican National Resistance), held the congress at which Ossufo Momade was elected as the new party leader and presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. Momade has already held the presidency since the death of Afonso Dhlakama in May 2018 and was seen as a “unifying leader” that could bring the political and military sector of RENAMO closer.

The ruling FRELIMO (Mozambique Liberation Front) also served in a Congress on May 6, 2019, in which it confirmed its decision to support the re-election of President Filipe Nyussi for a second and final term.

Days later, on May 9, the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), the third largest party in the country, confirming its presidential candidate would be Daviz Simango, mayor of Beira since 2003, who has already participated in the two previous general elections. Simango was proclaimed presidential candidate after a congress held between May 7 and 9.

Mozambique’s president and the leader of the country’s main opposition group signed a new peace accord on August 6, pledging to end years of violence and facilitate elections in the fall.

In signing the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement, President Filipe Nyusi and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade said they would peacefully participate in Oct. 15 elections.

Sources and further reading:

https://www.apnews.com/b6e994e61bb44cd1bc4b4f37392ab5b8

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