Mozambique Government disarming Renamo

Army and police have been attacking Renamo bases for the past month, with the goal of disarming Renamo. There has been fighting reported in Gorongosa and Inhaminga in Sofala (near Renamo's old bases) and in Morrumbala in Zambezia (where Renamo said it was setting up a new base). Interior Minister Jaime Monteiro said the action began on 9 October with the disarming of Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama's presidential guard in Beira. 

Deutsche Welle (30 Oct) reported heavy fighting in Morrumbala on 28 October with police and civilians killed. Police commander Jorge Khalau on 30 October confirmed the 28 October fighting but said only that houses had been burned. (AIM En 31 Oct) Fighting in all three places has caused hundreds of local residents to flee from their homes. (Lusa 6 Nov, Deutsche Welle 5 Nov)

After the 12 and 25 September attacks on Dhlakama's motorcade Savana and other media had reported splits in government and Frelimo. In the past two weeks there has been an effort to show unity and confirm the decision to disarm Renamo. Khalau and Monteiro, who had been accused of opposing President Filipe Nyusi, made their statement two weeks ago.

Afonso Dhlakama 2de2

Afonso Dhlakama 2de2

Image by A Verdade

Monteiro followed this up in parliament on 4 November when he said that if the Renamo gunmen do not hand over their weapons voluntarily, they will be disarmed coercively, adding that “the possession and use of weapons of war is the exclusive prerogative of the State”. (AIM En 4, 5 Nov)

But the broader agreement was shown when Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario told parliament on 5 November that the country’s defence and security forces “will continue to collect weapons that are in illegitimate hands”. And Lusa (9 Nov) reports the Nyusi, speaking in Angola 9 November, said that Mozambique must follow the Angolan model and disarm guerrilla groups which have become political parties. 

Meanwhile, Renamo General Secretary, Manuel Bissopo, told parliament Thursday 5 November that Renamo wants continued dialogue with government, but that it now wants to do away with the national mediators and insists on international mediation.

President Filipe Nyusi told Catholic bishops on Sunday 8 November that he still wanted to talk with Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama, but it was "difficult" to contact him. And he explicitly rejected Renamo's call for international mediation, saying “I think this is a matter that can be solved at home. I see no reason for choosing another country to solve this.” (AIM En 5, 8 Nov)

The Catholic bishops are usually seen as closer to Renamo, while Protestant church leaders who have become the main domestic mediators are seen as closer to Frelimo. In an interview with Voice of America (Pt 10 Nov) Renamo spokesman Antonio Muchanga said Renamo would accept mediation by the Catholic church of Mozambique and the international community. 

MOZAMBIQUE 302

News reports & clippings
12 November 2015
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Editor: Joseph Hanlon ( j.hanlon@open.ac.uk)

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