Mozambique: ‘Military junta’ threatens attack in the centre of Mozambique

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Mozambique: ‘Military junta’ threatens attack in the centre of Mozambique

12:48 CAT | 08 Jan 2020

[Photo file: Deutsche Welle ]

André Matsangaíssa Júnior, a member of the Renamo ‘military junta’ splinter group, has threatened new attacks if the members of his family who have been abducted are not released.

Matsangaíssa Júnior says that the last contact he had with his family members, who were kidnapped almost a month ago, was on 27 December.

In an interview with DW Africa, the self-proclaimed ‘Military Junta’ guerrilla says the alleged kidnappers told him they belonged to the Mozambique Defence and Security Forces, and demanded US$2 million in ransom and his surrender to the authorities.

Matsangaíssa says he has no money to pay, and refuses to surrender. “I will not be handing myself in any time soon,” he says.

Police declined to comment on the case, saying they have not yet received any complaint about the alleged abduction.

Back to school

Speaking by telephone from an unknown location, Matsangaíssa threatened attacks on the education system when pupils return to school in February if his family members are not released.

“I don’t want to see any classes from first to seventh grade in Manica or Sofala this year. I don’t even want to see any teachers in these schools,” he says.

The leader of Renamo’s self-proclaimed ‘Military Junta’, Mariano Nhongo, has also pledged further attacks if opposition party MPs take their seats in parliament next week, and Filipe Nyusi takes office as President of the Republic.

Since August 2019, at least 21 people have been killed in attacks in central Mozambique attributed to RENAMO guerrillas.
Frelimo worried

On Monday (06.01), Jaime Neto, first secretary of the provincial committee of the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) in Sofala, said he was concerned about the situation. “We condemn the warmongering acts of the Renamo ‘Military Junta’, and call on Renamo to find the best way to end these attacks and preserve the peace,” he said.

For Neto, it makes no sense that Renamo complains about the results after every election and attacks civilian targets on Mozambique’s roads and villages. This, he says, stops people exploiting the land for their very survival.

“As a result of the fear imposed by Renamo guerrillas, our population has never been able to utilise the potential of the province to generate wealth and improve their lives,” he says, adding that he is in no doubt that the attacks are aimed at undermining economic development in the region.

Source: Deutsche Welle