Machete Meets with Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in Maputo

Rui Machete, Portugal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, met yesterday with his Mozambican counterpart, Oldemiro Baloi. The agenda included issues of bilateral interest for Portugal and Mozambique and preparations for the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), which began today in Maputo.

O ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Rui Machete, reúne-se hoje com o seu homólogo moçambicano Oldemiro Baloi. Da agenda constam temas de interesse bilateral de Portugal e Moçambique e a preparação da reunião do Conselho de Ministros da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP), que começa amanhã em Maputo.

This article has been translated from Portuguese. Click here to read the original version on Expresso.

Kidnappings and the overall climate of insecurity that has settled over Mozambique – also affecting the Portuguese community – was most likely one of the topics discussed at the meeting between the foreign ministers of Portugal and Mozambique.

The Consulate of Portugal in the Mozambican capital has alerted the Portuguese community, explaining the safety procedures that must be followed. The kidnapping of a commander and pilot from TAP (Air Portugal), on January 17th, by five men wearing the uniform of the Mozambican Civil Police, was the incident with greatest media coverage in 2014.

Rui Machete is the head of the Portuguese Delegation to the 7th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the CPLP, held in Maputo today.

On the Summit's agenda are the monitoring of the political situation in Guinea-Bissau, the presentation of the report on the process of incorporation of Equatorial Guinea to the CPLP, and the approval of the Action Plan of Lisbon.

Neither Portugal, the European Union, nor CPLP recognize the government of Guinea-Bissau, led by Rui Barros. The country is undergoing a transition period after a coup that took place almost two years ago.

The European Union did not invite, "Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, or the Central African Republic to participate in the EU-Africa Summit, that will take place in Brussels on the 2nd and 3rd of April, because they are suspended by the African Union. In addition, "Brussels does not recognize the governments currently in power," said a source of the EU to Express.

Lusa News Agency said that, "the Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau, Carlos Moura, who was appointed by the CPLP, will provide an overview of the electoral process in that country."

It is important to recall that the presidential and parliamentary elections were supposed to be held in November 2013, but were then postponed to March 16th, with the likelihood of a further postponement.

The Portuguese Delegation to the CPLP Summit also includes the permanent representative of Portugal to CPLP, Carlos Pereira Marques.

Article translated by Anna Cardenas, Staff Intern for the Brazil Institute at the Wilson Center.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.