Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa has addressed the political turmoil in Mozambique, saying the escalating protests against the election results should be solved through dialogue.
"South Africa calls on all parties to commit to an urgent dialogue that will heal the country and set it on a new political and developmental trajectory," the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement received by PANA.
Pretoria has offered to play a leading role in finding stability in Mozambique.
"South Africa is ready to assist Mozambique in any manner to facilitate this dialogue," the department noted.
The turmoil has resulted in border closures between South Africa and Mozambique, cutting the flow of traffic and commerce.
And Airlink flights from Maputo to Cape Town and Maputo to Johannesburg have been cancelled due to the protests.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he is closely monitoring the situation in Mozambique following the country's Constitutional Council decision to uphold the outcomes of the 9 October elections.
Mahamat expressed "deep concern" at the situation and encouraged security services to exercise restraint in the use of force amid the violence and the maintenance of law and order.
-0- PANA CU//MA 27Oct2024
