Just in: Attack on Renamo ‘Military Junta’ base in Central Mozambique – Nhongo

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Just in: Attack on Renamo ‘Military Junta’ base in Central Mozambique – Nhongo

2:55 CAT | 06 Sep 2019

FILE: "We have men (guerrillas) being attacked right now," Mariano Nhongo told Lusa without offering further details, saying the group was deploying forces in response to the offensive. [File photo: Miramar]

A Renamo guerrilla base which supports the party’s self-proclaimed ‘Military Junta’ was attacked by government forces in Chipindaumwe, Gondola district, central Mozambique today, Friday, the group’s leader has told Lusa.

Mariano Nhongo, a Renamo lieutenant general and leader of the military junta, said that a contingent of the Defense and Security Forces had invaded the base and fired on guerrillas entrenched there.

The base is within walking distance of where a passenger bus was attacked and three people were injured on Thursday – along the Pungue River, bordering the Nhamatanda and Gorongosa districts.

“We have men (guerrillas) being attacked right now,” Mariano Nhongo told Lusa without offering further details, saying the group was deploying forces in response to the offensive.

Although hostilities between the government and Renamo ended in December 2016, and peace was formalised through agreements signed a month ago, the group led by Renamo Lieutenant General Mariano Nhongo remains “entrenched in the woods”.

The group, which calls itself the Renamo Military Junta, disavows party leader Ossufo Momade and the agreements signed by him, notably those concerning the disarmament and reintegration of Renamo guerrillas into society.

Speaking to Lusa, a source from the group denied authorship of the attack, calling it an attempt to “blackmail” the Military Junta, which has formed parallel party structures and threatened military action if the government does not renegotiate the peace agreement.

Earlier this month, the group denounced a plan of attack on its bases by state forces, and accused the party leader of providing the base coordinates of the contesting guerrillas.

Source: Lusa