The occupation of the German embassy in Mozambique entered its fourth day on Friday. Forty Mozambicans continued to press claims that Maputo was withholding funds paid by the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) for their social security.

And no solution is in sight. Initial talks between German ambassador Ulf Dieter Klemm and the protestors ended in a deadlock. The embassy put out a statement saying the "issue is now a sole responsibility of the Mozambican authorities."

The demonstrators said they would remain in the embassy "as long as it takes" for their demands to be met, said Alberto Mahuaie, coordinator of the Forum of Former Workers in the GDR, on Friday. They had stormed the premises on Tuesday, prompting the diplomatic staff to temporarily abandon the building.

Financial claims unresolved

Formerly Communist Mozambique sent almost 16,000 workers to East Germany in the 1970s and 1980s as part of a migrant labor agreement. Most of these workers, known colloquially as "Majermanes", were employed in the construction, metal and textile industries and returned home with the end of the East German state in 1990.

But they took their financial claims with them. For years, the Majermanes paid millions of dollars in social security payments to the East German government. Half of these funds remained in the GDR financial system. The remainder was, as contractually agreed, transferred into Mozambique's development bank.

The money was supposed to be paid out upon the workers' return to help them set up new lives back in Mozambique. The protestors in Maputo claim that the government has been withholding part of these funds. The Mozambican government has paid out $7 million (€5.6 million) to the workers, but the latter claim they are owed more than $11 million dollars in total.

The occupation of the German embassy is not the first Majermanes demonstration. Groups of former workers have staged regular protests in Mozambique demanding payment from the government, and even invaded parliament in an effort to make their demands heard.

Germany washes its hand of the matter

For the German government, the dispute is considered settled. Germany transferred the payments to Mozambique, thus fulfilling its obligations. But the Majermanes want Berlin to exert more political pressure on their government to pay out the money.

A spokeswoman of the German Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Klemm was continuing discussions with the protestors to convince them to leave the premises.

Mozambique was not the only country to send migrant workers to East Germany. Laborers from Vietnam, Angola and Cuba, among others, also earned their living there in the 1970s and 1980s. If Germany were to soften its stance in the debate with the Majermanes, it could face a wave of complaints from other nations.