Mozambican police says operations against Renamo are to protect the population

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Mozambican police says operations against Renamo are to protect the population

1:35 CAT | 08 Jun 2016

Lusa (File photo)

The Mozambican police yesterday justified operations in the center of the country as intended to protect the population there against alleged Renamo attacks, and declined to comment on an assault on the base where the Renamo leader is allegedly living.

“The Defence and Security Forces are stationed to defend the people where armed Renamo groups have been attacking civilians,” said the spokesman of the General Command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), Inacio Dina, during the weekly police activities press conference.

On Wednesday, the president of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Afonso Dhlakama, has accused the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) of launching an attack on his base in Gorongosa, an operation that, according to the leader the largest opposition party, led to the site being taken by the Defence and Security Forces.

Questioned by journalists in Maputo, Dina refused to comment on the incident, and blamed Renamo for the confrontations taking place in the region.

“It is Renamo that is attacking,” he said. According to Mozambican law, “Renamo should not even have military bases,” he added.

The PRM spokesman also blamed Afonso Dhlakama’s party for the attack on Monday on a Vale mining company train on the Sena line in Sofala, saying that operations to capture the attackers were ongoing.

“The PRM will continue to ensure the safety of the people,” he said, appealing to local people to cooperate with the authorities.

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 Mozambican government and Renamo delegations met again on June 2 in order to prepare for a meeting between Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and the Renamo leader.

This is their third meeting since the resumption of talks between the two parties resumed at the end of May. The two sides announced they had reached consensus on the draft agenda and terms of reference of the meeting, but did not reveal details of the contents of the understanding.

Source: Lusa