Mozambique 5 May 2017: Peace without limits

Good afternoon. It’s been another week of rhetorical developments in the hidden debts saga - but that story is kept off the top billing this week by Afonso Dhlakama’s declaration of an open-ended cease-fire, designed to restore confidence to investors, he said.

FREE TO READ: ‘Peace is starting’ – Mozambique opposition leader announces open-ended ceasefire

Restoring confidence is a priority for the World Bank, too, which approved its latest five-year partnership strategy with the country last week. The strategy was due to be launched a year ago but was postponed at the last minute after the discovery of the ‘hidden debts’ - a discovery which continues to overshadow the Mozambican economy.

SEE: World Bank approves new plan to help Mozambique recover from debt shocks

The government’s strategy vis-a-vis those debts remains a topic of much speculation both inside and outside Mozambique. The Prime Minister gave more clues in parliament both last week and this week, about a strategy which, despite the twists and turns of the past year, may turn out to have been hiding in plain sight all along.

SEE: Mozambique debts: preparing for a ‘public interest’ defence?

SEE: Mozambique PM says Attorney General will have final word on ‘hidden debts’

There were further revelations this week about Aeroportos de Moçambique’s financial woes, which the government is hoping to solve by bringing in a private concessionaire for Nacala Airport. A similar strategy is in place for airline LAM - but it remains to be seen if any investor finds it an attractive proposition.

SEE: Aeroportos de Moçambique confirms $7.5m arrears to Brazil on Nacala Airport

SEE: Mozambique’s struggling airline in talks with ‘strategic partner’

Mozambique’s stock exchange has hit a new milestone with the listing of its fifth company - meaning it has three more to go to hit its target for this year. The chairman has his eye on SMEs in particular.

SEE: Mozambique stock exchange gets 5th listed company as chairman targets SMEs

And finally, news from the gas sector - Indonesia’s EMP is close to losing its exploration licence in central Mozambique if it doesn’t prove up the gas reserves soon.

SEE: EMP has 60 days to prove up Mozambique’s Buzi gas field reserves

Have a great weekend.

RECENT POSTS

• Mozambique stock exchange gets 5th listed company as chairman targets SMEs

• Mozambique PM says Attorney General will have final word on ‘hidden debts’

• EMP has 60 days to prove up Mozambique’s Buzi gas field reserves

• Aeroportos de Moçambique confirms $7.5m arrears to Brazil on Nacala Airport

• ‘Peace is starting’ – Mozambique opposition leader announces open-ended ceasefire