On Thursday, September 15, the Africa Center, in partnership with the International Republican Institute (IRI), hosted a breakfast roundtable in honor of His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, president of the Republic of Mozambique.

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham welcomed participants and, following the president’s remarks, moderated the discussion. IRI Executive Vice President Judy Van Rest introduced the president.

In his remarks, Nyusi focused on efforts to strengthen democracy and governance. The discussion focused on economic development in the country, the ongoing conflict with armed factions of the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), as well as the government’s continued conservation efforts.

Other members of the delegation in attendance included H.E. Ernesto Max Tonela, minister of industry and commerce; H.E. Celso Correia, minister of earth, environment, and rural development; and H.E. Carlos dos Santos, ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to the United States. Participants included The Honorable Dean Pittman, US ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique; Mr. Steven Feldstein, deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US Department of State; Ambassador Herman J. Cohen, former assistant secretary of state for African affairs; Ambassador Princeton Lyman, former assistant secretary of state for international organizations; Mr. John S. Tanner, Atlantic Council board director; and Ms. Vivian Derryck, former assistant administrator for Africa at the US Agency for International Development, among others.

Image: Mozambican President H.E. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi speaks at the Atlantic Council on Thursday.