Mozambique attacks: Renamo walks out of parliament ahead of human rights’ report debate

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Mozambique attacks: Renamo walks out of parliament ahead of human rights’ report debate

11:55 CAT | 12 Nov 2020

Picture: Limpopo Channel Moz

The Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the country’s main opposition party, has walked out the debate in the Mozambican parliament on the human rights situation in Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, and in other central provinces.

At issue is the report of the first parliamentary commission, which Renamo refused to join. The party said, in early October, that the majority Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) party in fact intended only to do a little “tourism” in the conflict zones.

“The Standing Commission decided to mandate the first commission to carry out a working visit, in substitution of and to dilute the Renamo bench initiative,” which had proposed the creation of a commission of inquiry, an initiative which was rejected.

Renamo’s proposal came after several non-governmental organisations in the country and abroad denounced alleged atrocities committed by members of the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS) – allegations which the government has always denied, saying that the videos portraying such acts are doctored.

The first commission’s parliamentary report attributes human rights violations to the terrorist groups the FDS is fighting.

Frelimo holds a qualified majority of 184 of the 250 seats in parliament; the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) holds 60 and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) six.

Today’s agenda in parliament also includes voting on a resolution on the topic, at a time when the conflict has been the subject of international attention due to reports of massacres involving hundreds of people in the last week, some of whom were allegedly beheaded.

Armed violence in Cabo Delgado has caused a humanitarian crisis with about 2,000 deaths and 435,000 people displaced to neighbouring provinces, with insufficient housing or food, mainly concentrated in the provincial capital, Pemba.

The parliamentary commission’s report also covers the conflict with Renamo dissident guerrillas which has claimed an estimated 30 lives in the centre of the country in the past year.

Source: Lusa