Just in: Renamo accuses Frelimo of reactivating “death squads” to persecute opposition after election day – Mozambique

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Just in: Renamo accuses Frelimo of reactivating “death squads” to persecute opposition after election day – Mozambique

3:44 CAT | 12 Nov 2019

José Manteigas, Renamo's spokesman, said these cases occurred between October 16 and November 11 of this yearin Mozambique's central provinces of Sofala, Manica, Zambezia and Tete. [Photo: DW]

Renamo, Mozambique’s main opposition party, today accused the ruling Frelimo party of “reactivating the death squads” to carry out acts of violence and persecute its members, resurrecting Mozambique long-established tradition of post-election conflict.

“In violation of both the spirit and letter of the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement, signed on August 6 this year, Frelimo has reactivated the death squads,” Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) spokesman Jose Manteigas said today.

Speaking at a press conference in Maputo, Manteigas accused the defence and security forces of illegally detaining members of Renamo and attempting to kidnap others.

According to Manteigas, these cases occurred in Mozambique’s central provinces of Sofala, Manica, Zambezia and Tete, between October 16 and November 11 of this year.

“The scenario we present here is a small sample of what happened after October 15,” Manteigas said, referring to the general and provincial elections which gave victory to the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo).

José Manteigas said that, as President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi “knows what is happening on the ground”, and alleged that several Renamo members had been murdered by alleged death squads.

The Renamo spokesman also accused the Frelimo government of doing nothing to stop the “extermination of the population” of the northern province of Cabo Delgado in attacks by unidentified insurgents.

José Manteigas would only answer questions related to the claim he made today, refusing to address other matters.

Despite its best efforts, Lusa has not yet been able to interview Frelimo or the Mozambican police about Renamo’s accusations.

Source: Lusa