MAPUTO, Mozambique
Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi on Friday relieved of his duties the deputy chief of staff of the armed forces (FADM), Lt-Gen Bertolino Capitine.
Capitine (pictured above) was
originally an officer in the former rebel movement, Renamo. Ever since the
formation of the FADM in 1994, a certain balance has been established, with a
Chief of Staff drawn from the former government army, the FAM/FPLM, and a
Deputy Chief of Staff from Renamo.
As is normal in presidential
dispatches, Nyusi gave no reasons for removing Capitine from his post.
However, in some quarters it
is being linked with a speech Capitine gave on Monday at the Joaquim Chissano
University in Maputo, as part of the commemorations of the 60th anniversary of
the FADM.
Capitine’s long and meandering
speech made a number of criticisms which would not be accepted from serving
military officers in many countries.
For instance, he attacked the
alleged poor quality of military equipment purchased second hand. He sneered at
Land-Rovers acquired from the United Kingdom as “older than Queen Elizabeth”.
No new Deputy Chief of Staff
has yet been appointed.
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