Portugal’s head of government, Antonio Costa, asked Mozambique for forgiveness on Friday during his official visit to Maputo for the massacre in the village of Wiriyamu during the colonial era.
By December 1972, some 400 unarmed civilians had been killed by Portuguese soldiers. « Nearly 50 years after that terrible day of December 16, 1972, I cannot fail here to evoke and bow before the memory of the victims of the Wiriyamu massacre, » said Antonio Costa during a dinner with the President Mozambican, Filipe Nyusi.
For him, it is an “inexcusable act that dishonors our history”. And to continue, “in the face of history, we have a duty of repentance”.
Antonio Costa made his two-day trip to Maputo as part of the fifth Portugal-Mozambique summit. This meeting, which is mainly oriented towards economic aspects, led to the signing of several protocols between the two countries.
On Saturday, after his visit, Costa wrote on his Twitter account that the relationship between Portugal and Mozambique “is strategic and a priority” for Lisbon.
Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, gained independence on June 25, 1975.
By OMA Newsletter N° 842 of 05/09/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
