Group of donors suspend aid to Mozambique

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

The group of 14 countries and organizations providing direct support to the Mozambique Budget has decided to suspend aid to the country following the disclosure of debts omitted from the public accounts, said Wednesday in Maputo the President of the Republic of Portugal.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that the suspension was decided “for the purpose of clarification,” and was not definitive, adding that talks on the subject had already begun.
The Portuguese President was speaking at a joint press conference with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi after a meeting between the two heads of state at the presidential palace of Mozambique in Maputo.
Rebelo de Sousa reiterated that the decision by donor countries and agencies was related to clarifying the real extent of public debt and also “the need to stabilise the operation of the institutions and the country in economic and financial terms.”
The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, said he believed the decision to suspend direct aid to the state budget was a temporary measure to make room for clarification of Mozambican public debt.
Cited by daily newspaper Notícias, Nyusi said he understood the programme support partners’ fears, “as they do not feel comfortable to continue to send money as the issue of debt is not properly understood.”
“I believe that there is no donor that wants to sacrifice the Mozambicans, as the measures that are being taken are aimed at creating a state of sustainability,” said Nyusi, adding that the most important is whether the debt is sustainable.  MDT/Macauhub

china donates usd16m

China has donated USD16 million to Mozambique under an economic and technical cooperation agreement signed Wednesday in Maputo by representatives of the two countries, Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias reported. The deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Nyeleti Mondlane, said the signed document “is the Chinese government’s contribution to the Mozambican government’s efforts to further the objective of economic and social development.”