EU calls for immediate end to attacks on Mozambique’s roads attributed to Renamo

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EU calls for immediate end to attacks on Mozambique’s roads attributed to Renamo

5:15 CAT | 18 Feb 2016

In file Club of Mozambique.

The European Union (EU) is concerned about the “general deterioration” of the political and security situation in Mozambique and wants an immediate end to the attacks attributed to Renamo in the centre of the country, a European Community diplomatic source told Lusa yesterday.

On the eve of a visit to Mozambique of the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, , the European bloc says that the recent attacks on the country’s principal highway endanger safety and law and order and wants the perpetrators to “stop immediately”.

As well as the attacks blamed on Renamo (Mozambique National Resistance), the EU expressed concern over the clashes between security forces and opposition gunmen that are keeping students out of schools in Tete and Zambezia and causing the flight of thousands of people to neighbouring Malawi.

Calling on all parties to refrain from violence and to rebuild mutual trust as a prelude to dialogue, the EU diplomatic source regrets that the investigations into the attack on the secretary-general of Renamo, Manuel Bissopo on 20 January, in Beira, and the attacks involving the entourage of opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama in Manica in September, have not yet born fruit.

Similarly, the EU calls for the investigation of the known cases of abduction and murder of Renamo and Frelimo (Liberation Front of Mozambique) members, and demands and end to threats and intimidation that ” aggravate the political environment in Mozambique”.

Federica Mogherini is expected to meet with the Mozambican authorities in Maputo on June 24.

The EU discussed the attack on Bissopo in Brussels on January 22 and called for an investigation as to who is responsible for the “trend of violence” in the country. The United States, in a statement from its embassy in Maputo, has likewise expressed “deep concern” about the attack on Bissopo and condemned “the killing and persecution” in Mozambique.

Mozambique has been experiencing political instability for several months, with the leader of Renamo threatening to take power in six northern and central provinces of the country, where his movement claims victory in the 2014 general elections.

The government and Renamo have accused each other of abductions and murders of their members in recent weeks. attacks against circulating vehicles in Sofala province. by Renamo gunmen have also been reported since last week.

Renamo has asked South African President Jacob Zuma and the Catholic church to mediate in the stalled dialogue with the government.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has reiterated his availability to meet the leader of Renamo, but Afonso Dhlakama believes that there is nothing to talk about, Frelimo having rejected Renamo’s request for a revision of the constitution to make possible the creation of the new autonomous administrative regions demanded by the opposition, and saying that dialogue would only now resume after Renamo had taken power in the centre and north of the country.

Source: Lusa