Mozambique: ‘Military Junta’ says confrontation at guerrilla base left no casualties

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Mozambique: ‘Military Junta’ says confrontation at guerrilla base left no casualties

2:07 CAT | 09 Sep 2019

Mariano Nhongo. [File photo: DW]

Renamo Military Junta leader Lieutenant General Mariano Nhongo says that the armed clash involving guerrillas of the self-proclaimed military junta and security forces on Friday 6 September did not result in any casualties among the members of his group.

The Friday 06/09 confrontation between guerrillas of the self-proclaimed Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) Military Junta and security forces did not cause casualties among group members, according to its leader, Mariano Nhongo.

Nhongo reported an attack on a base in Chipindaumwe in Gondola district in central Mozambique, attributing responsibility to Mozambican Defence and Security Forces.

“My men are fine,” the Renamo lieutenant general said.

Military Junta

Mosambik RENAMO-MilitÃ¤rjunta in Gorongosa (DW/A. SebastiÃ£o) — *Military junta in Gorongosa*

The military junta has been threatening to use force to make itself heard since rebelling in June.

“My men on the base were attacked and responded,” Nhongo reported, saying the confrontation lasted until early afternoon in the bush some distance from the village.

The base is near the Pungue River between Nhamatanda and Gorongosa districts, where a passenger bus was shot at by unidentified men on Thursday, causing injury to three.

Lusa news agency has sought clarification from the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) spokesman in Manica province, but so far has not received any information. The confrontation was however confirmed by other sources, notably a resident of the Gondola district.

Peace

Although hostilities between the government and Renamo ceased in December 2016 and peace was formally signed through agreements signed a month ago, the group Mariano Nhongo leads remains “entrenched in the woods”.

The self-styled Renamo Military Junta does not recognise party leader Ossufo Momade, nor the agreements signed by him, notably those governing the disarmament and reintegration of guerrillas into society, threatening to use violence to make their demands heard.

Renamo president Ossufo Momade has called the movement a group of undisciplined deserters.

“Mariano Nhongo is a Mozambican citizen and member of Renamo and all we can do now is ask him to see reason,” Momade said on Wednesday in a public interview.

Source: Deutsche Welle