Mozambique: Chapo and Ramaphosa discuss strengthening cooperation in transport and logistics
Mozambique: Information on Military Junta reactivation ‘not credible’ – Defence Minister
2:02 CAT | 01 Apr 2022
FILE PHOTO - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Ministério da Defesa Nacional de Moçambique]
Mozambique’s defence minister has said information about the regrouping of Junta Militar, an armed dissidence of Renamo, the main opposition party, was not credible after the armed forces said the group remains active.
“We have no credible information that gives us an indication that there is a new leader of the Military Junta,” said Cristóvão Chume, quoted today by Notícias, the country’s main daily newspaper.
Chume said that “all I can say about this is speculation or information aimed at disturbing the central zone” of the country.
A large part of the residual forces of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), including some members of the Military Junta, has joined the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process, he added.
The minister said that joining the DDR shows that the members of the armed dissidence of the main opposition party are not willing to “resurrect” the Military Junta.
ALSO READ: Mozambique: ‘Renamo Military Junta’ has new leader – AIM
His statements contradict the announcement made in February by the Director of Operations at the Ministry of Defence, Chongo Vidigal, who said at the time that the Military Junta had appointed a new leader, after the death in combat of its chief, Mariano Nhongo, and that it remains active.
“The latest information we have is that recently there were internal elections and new leaders of the Military Junta were appointed. This means that this group, for all intents and purposes, is still active,” Brigadier Chongo Vidigal said.
Vidigal said that these elections had been held in the Gorongosa mountains in central Mozambique, despite the silence from the group after its leader, Mariano Nhongo, was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police forces in October 2021.
“After the death of the leader of the Junta Militar, Mariano Nhongo, the situation has changed profoundly, but that does not mean it is over: when you eliminate a leader it does not mean that the force has ceased to exist,” he added.
The self-proclaimed Renamo military junta was responsible for more than 30 deaths in armed attacks in central Mozambique between 2019 and October 2021, when Mariano Nhongo was shot.
The junta leader was contesting Renamo’s leadership and demanding the renegotiation of the peace agreement signed by the main opposition party and the government in August 2019.
Mozambique: Frelimo worried at supposed revival of “Renamo Military Junta” – AIM report
Source: Lusa
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.