Mozambique: ‘Junta’ leader threatens to undermine governance “in six provinces”

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Mozambique: ‘Junta’ leader threatens to undermine governance “in six provinces”

4:18 CAT | 09 Apr 2021

File photo: DW

The leader of the self-proclaimed Renamo Military Junta on Thursday threatened to make the governance of six provinces in central and northern Mozambique impossible if a letter of claims he has allegedly sent to the authorities is ignored.

“If the government does not negotiate with the Military Junta, it will not govern in six provinces. If it succeeds in governing, it will govern by force, but it will always have consequences,” Mariano Nhongo told the media by telephone from an unknown location in the centre of Mozambique.

The Renamo Military Junta, a dissident group from the main opposition party headed by former guerrilla leader Nhongo, disputes the leadership of the Mozambican National Resistance and the conditions for demobilisation resulting from the peace agreement. It is blamed by the authorities for armed attacks in the centre of the country that have killed at least 30 people since 2019.

According to Nhongo, the document containing the requirements for the reintegration of his guerrillas was sent to the government and to the peace negotiating contact group on October 2 last year.

“If the government remains silent, the time will come when we will announce to the world about when we will start with our actions. I am not doing anything [yet], because I am waiting for the government’s response,” Nhongo said.

In recent months, several influential members of the group have left the bush and joined the peace process, but their leader maintains his claims, accusing the deserters of treason.

“The government is burning time if it continues to listen to the traitors,” the former Renamo guerrilla leader says.

The peace agreement in Mozambique was signed in August 2019 by the Mozambican head of state and the president of Renamo, providing, among other aspects, for the conditions of the demilitarization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) of the armed branch of the main opposition party.

Source: Lusa