Head of ‘Renamo Military Junta’ takes responsibility for attacks in the centre of Mozambique – Noticias

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Head of ‘Renamo Military Junta’ takes responsibility for attacks in the centre of Mozambique – Noticias

2:07 CAT | 01 Nov 2019

FILE: Mariano Nhongo. [File photo: Noticias]

The head of the self-proclaimed Renamo Military Junta, Mariano Nhongo, has yesterday declared responsibility for the armed attacks carried out in recent days in Mozambique’s central Manica and Sofala provinces, saying they took place under his command.

Nhongo spoke to Notícias yesterday in a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Beira.

Nhongo said the motivation for the attacks was the outcome of the 15 October general elections, in which, he claimed, Mozambique Police (PRM) and Rapid Intervention Unit agents were directed by electoral bodies to intervene at the polling stations in order to resolve misdemeanours “where there were gunshots and people died”.

This, he said, culminated in the detention of several citizens, some of whom remain incarcerated, allegedly facilitating the stuffing of ballot boxes, especially in the provinces of Niassa, Nampula, Zambezia, Sofala, Manica and Tete.

“Frelimo will not rule in these six provinces, even with a strong contingent of Defence and Security Forces and road escorts,” he said, adding that his group would attack any PRM vehicle in retaliation for the alleged direct intervention of the corporation in the October 15 elections.

“We have no problem with the Armed Forces of the Defence of Mozambique (FADM), because they did not interfere in this election at all,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nhongo has failed to explain why these raids are also being targeted at civilian targets, saying, “I’d rather not talk about it.”

On the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process being implemented under the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement signed on 6 August in Maputo by President Filipe Nyusi, and Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, Mariano Nhongo said he hoped for a “just process”, without explaining the outlines of this ‘justice’.

Regarding his relations with Ossufo Momade, the head of the Renamo Military Junta said: “I don’t want to talk to him; I don’t want to see or hear from him, because he has totally ruined our party.”

He was however ready to talk to President Nyusi, “if he wants, to put an end to this military tension.”

“Starting tomorrow (today, Friday), I will be fully available to talk to President Nyusi, because I will be in an area where the network signal will allow a proper phone call,” the Renamo Military Junta chief said.

Source: Noticias