Thursday, March 3, the president carried out the biggest ministerial reshuffle since he came to power in 2015. Filipe Nyusi reshuffled 6 ministries out of the 18 in his government, including the Prime Minister.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman Song
There is no official explanation, but this reshuffle comes seven months before the congress of Frelimo, the party in power since the independence of Mozambique in 1975. This congress must appoint, in September, the next presidential candidate of 2024. It is therefore in the light of this deadline that the composition of the new government must be read.
” It’s war within Frelimo “, confided to us a diplomatic source. The different political currents are engaged in a fierce battle, confirms Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD). President Filipe Nyusi wanted to sideline those close to former President Armando Guebuza and remain surrounded by his allies.
maintain influence
” He renamed the same people, his friends, relatives. Take Carlos Mesquita, the new Minister of Public Works and Housing. At the start of Filipe Nyusi’s mandate, he was already Minister of Transport and Communications. This man was a school friend of Nyusi “, underlines Adriano Nuvunga
As the end of his second term approaches, synonymous with giving up power, Filipe Nyusi would like his faction to win the September conference, to continue to work calmly until 2024 and maintain its influence. We must therefore close ranks.
In November 2021, it was the Ministers of the Interior and Defense who were thanked. In all, eleven ministries have been overhauled since the start of his second term.
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