The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, congratulated Mozambique on the closure of the last Renamo base, which he considered to be proof that it is possible to choose peace.

"I congratulate Mozambique and its people on the closure of the last Renamo base. This important milestone serves as a reminder that it is always possible to choose peace," Guterres wrote on the social network Twiter on Friday.

Quoted by Lusa, Guterres added that: "I pledge the UN's full support to the peace process".

The last Renamo base was closed in Vanduzi, Gorongosa district, in the central province of Sofala, on Thursday, more than 30 years after the end of the country's civil war.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, and the leader of Renamo, Ossufo Momade.

For Filipe Nyusi, "the closure of this base demonstrates the unwavering determination of my government and Renamo not to return to military hostilities and to consolidate lasting peace in Mozambique".

According to the UN, the closure of Renamo's 16th base is in line with the Maputo Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation, signed in August 2019.

The ceremony marked the end of the demobilization process for the 5,221 guerrillas who remained at their bases in remote areas and who began handing in their weapons four years ago as part of the peace agreement.

Now comes the reintegration phase, which includes starting to pay pensions to the demobilized.