Mozambique ex-rebels end peace deal after attack

Mozambique ex-rebels end peace deal after attack

10 minutes ago

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View gFighters of the former Mozambican rebel movement Renamo in Gorongosa's mountains on November 8, 2012 (AFP Photo/Jinty Jackson)​

Maputo (AFP) - Mozambique's former rebel group Renamo declared the end of a 1992 peace deal that ended a 16-year civil war after government forces attacked and seized its base on Monday.

The defence ministry spokesman confirmed it had taken over the base near central Mozambique's Gorongosa, days after the rebel-movement-turned-opposition struck at a government military unit.
"We entered Sathundjira," said ministry spokesman Custodio Chume, after the operation. No casualties were reported.

But a Renamo spokesman said the aim of the attack was to kill its leader.
"Today, around 1300 hours (1100 GMT), the Frelimo-government used troops and heavy artillery to attack the residence of the Renamo president, Afonso Dhlakama, to kill him in cold blood," said Fernando Mazanga.

Renamo, which fought the Frelimo-led government for 16 years until 1992, said it was pulling out of the peace deal in response to the strike.
"The taking of president Dhlakama's base by the special forces marks the end of multiparty democracy," Renamo's Mazanga said.

"This irresponsible attitude of the commander in chief of the country's security forces (President Armando Guebuza) signals the end of the Rome Peace accord."

Tensions between Renamo and the Frelimo-led government started escalating last year, after the group's leader Dhlakama set up camp in the Gorongosa mountains, retraining former guerrilla fighters.

The former rebels have been demanding the government renegotiate the terms of a 1992 peace accord.
Renamo became the official opposition after it signed a peace deal with the Frelimo-led government to end a 16-year civil war in 1992. But in April this year simmering tensions erupted in deadly clashes again.
The movement wants more representation on election bodies and in the armed forces.

Here we go again

Kashishi said:

Mozambique ex-rebels end peace deal after attack


Maputo (AFP) - Mozambique's former rebel group Renamo declared the end of a 1992 peace deal that ended a 16-year civil war after government forces attacked and seized its base on Monday.


Renamo, which fought the Frelimo-led government for 16 years until 1992, said it was pulling out of the peace deal in response to the strike.
"The taking of president Dhlakama's base by the special forces marks the end of multiparty democracy," Renamo's Mazanga said.

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Stupid Renamo. Without the backing like that of the South African apartheid government they used to enjoy during those dark days, how far do they think they will get? Let them bring it on and face the might of the SADC forces.

Hiyo itauwa gas tu. Asimilia 100 iko kwenye RENAMO controlled area! Karibu na Ntwara. Tuone drama sasa

Synthesizer said:

Stupid Renamo. Without the backing like that of the South African apartheid government they used to enjoy during those dark days, how far do they think they will get? Let them bring it on and face the might of the SADC forces.

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Probably you are stupid as well.

Mudawote said:

Probably you are stupid as well.

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Likely you are a stupid Renamo sympathizer

Synthesizer said:

Likely you are a stupid Renamo sympathizer

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I'm not. My point is that it is a bad idea to be biased in other countries affairs. Remembering how some folks supported the western power to oust gadafi, thereafter as we hear, it turn out that neither the revolutionalist nor the western are enjoying safe heaven in libya, they even killed one of the most guarded diplomat in the world.

Mudawote said:

I'm not. My point is that it is a bad idea to be biased in other countries affairs. Remembering how some folks supported the western power to oust gadafi, thereafter as we hear, it turn out that neither the revolutionalist nor the western are enjoying safe heaven in libya, they even killed one of the most guarded diplomat in the world.

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Did you even read why Renamo is taking up arms again? The former rebels have been demanding the government renegotiate the terms of a 1992 peace accord. Renamo became the official opposition after it signed a peace deal with the Frelimo-led government to end a 16-year civil war in 1992. But in April this year simmering tensions erupted in deadly clashes again.

They agreed and signed this peace accord, willingly, and now they want to shift the goal posts. Does that sound rational to you? Do you really think this is about the shortfalls in the accord they willingly agreed to and signed? No my friend, this about RENAMO realizing they will never be able to beat FRELIMO in any fair election, not now, not in the near future, not in Dhlakama's life time.

What is the point in agreeing to and signing peace accords if a few years down the line people take up arms to relay their wish that the accord be reviewed?

These are the people you want to sympathize with. People that, with the support of the very obnoxious South African apartheid regime, used to rape and murder innocent women and children, cut off their limbs, in the name of liberation of Mozambique from FRELIMO. You probably were too young then, and you don't know anything about the atrocities committed by RENAMO.

And by the way, hundreds of Tanzanian soldiers died in Mozambique fighting RENAMO. Make a point of visiting their graves there when you have time.

microX said:

Here we go again

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Africans phewwww

Joram M said:

Hiyo itauwa gas tu. Asimilia 100 iko kwenye RENAMO controlled area! Karibu na Ntwara. Tuone drama sasa

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Sina shaka mkuu wa RENAMO aliondoka Maputo na kuhamia kwenye area yenye uwezekano wa kuvumbuliwa gesi baada ya kupata tetesi za kuwepo gesi, kwa mawazo yake anafikiri akikalia eneo hilo litamuwezesha kuishinikiza Serikali ya Msumbiji kukaa chini na kudi lake ili wapewe madaraka zaidi Serikalini ili baadae aweze kupata mwanya wa kuitawala Msumbiji. Dharakama ni mroho wa madaraka sana, Serikali ya Msumbiji inapashwa kushumshugulikia kama Serikali ya Angola alivyo mshughulikia Jonas Savimbi, bila ya kufanya hivyo fasta jamaa huyu anaweza kuleta madhala makubwa Msumbiji, vile vile vyombo vya usalama nchini Msumbiji vinapashwa kujichunguza kwani inashangaza kuona Dharakama aliweza kufanikisha kunusurika kwenye suprise attack ya kambi yake, swali ni: Nani alimpa taarifa mapema kabla ya operation kutekelezwa na majeshi ya Msumbiji.

RENAMO is another AL-Qaeda faction in our area. They are really terrorists. A killer is a killer. The Rome agreement just suppressed their killer instincts. Now the instincts are back they want to start the killings again. The Racist Government is not there. Lets see who is going to support them.

Bukyanagandi said:

Sina shaka mkuu wa RENAMO aliondoka Maputo na kuhamia kwenye area yenye uwezekano wa kuvumbuliwa gesi baada ya kupata tetesi za kuwepo gesi, kwa mawazo yake anafikiri akikalia eneo hilo litamuwezesha kuishinikiza Serikali ya Msumbiji kukaa chini na kudi lake ili wapewe madaraka zaidi Serikalini ili baadae aweze kupata mwanya wa kuitawala Msumbiji. Dharakama ni mroho wa madaraka sana, Serikali ya Msumbiji inapashwa kushumshugulikia kama Serikali ya Angola alivyo mshughulikia Jonas Savimbi, bila ya kufanya hivyo fasta jamaa huyu anaweza kuleta madhala makubwa Msumbiji, vile vile vyombo vya usalama nchini Msumbiji vinapashwa kujichunguza kwani inashangaza kuona Dharakama aliweza kufanikisha kunusurika kwenye suprise attack ya kambi yake, swali ni: Nani alimpa taarifa mapema kabla ya operation kutekelezwa na majeshi ya Msumbiji.

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Kulingana na information za ki-intelligensia, huyo bwana ni mmoja wa watu hatari sana Duniani. Askali wa Tanzania waliokuwa kule Msumbuji wanaeleze jinsi walivyokuwa wakiuwawa kila kukicha. Ikafikia sehemu ilibidi sasa wache kuwasiliana na wanajeshi wa Mozambique waende kivyao vyao. Hapo ndipo mafanikio yalipoanza kuonekana dhahiri. Lakini kwa Dunia ya sasa, anachemka sana. Hawezi kwa namna yoyote ile ku-practice yale ya miaka ya sabini na themanini. Hawezi kabisa kabisa. Isitoshe Mozambique kwa sasa ni kioo cha kimataifa kuhusu maendeleo na kupunguza umaskini. Watamshughulikia squrely vwery soon. Wasi wasi wangu ni kuwa ataacha makovu, yaani watu watakaoendeleza ujinga wake kwa miaka mingi ijayo. Kule Mtwara kungekuwa na public figure yenye mvuto kwa wananchi, nina hakika zile vurugu zingeishia kama hivi. Lakini Bongo yetu tambarare kabisa kabisa. KIla mtu ni ndugu wa mwenzake

Joram M said:

Kulingana na information za ki-intelligensia, huyo bwana ni mmoja wa watu hatari sana Duniani. Askali wa Tanzania waliokuwa kule Msumbuji wanaeleze jinsi walivyokuwa wakiuwawa kila kukicha. Ikafikia sehemu ilibidi sasa wache kuwasiliana na wanajeshi wa Mozambique waende kivyao vyao. Hapo ndipo mafanikio yalipoanza kuonekana dhahiri. Lakini kwa Dunia ya sasa, anachemka sana. Hawezi kwa namna yoyote ile ku-practice yale ya miaka ya sabini na themanini. Hawezi kabisa kabisa. Isitoshe Mozambique kwa sasa ni kioo cha kimataifa kuhusu maendeleo na kupunguza umaskini. Watamshughulikia squrely vwery soon. Wasi wasi wangu ni kuwa ataacha makovu, yaani watu watakaoendeleza ujinga wake kwa miaka mingi ijayo. Kule Mtwara kungekuwa na public figure yenye mvuto kwa wananchi, nina hakika zile vurugu zingeishia kama hivi. Lakini Bongo yetu tambarare kabisa kabisa. KIla mtu ni ndugu wa mwenzake

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Mkuu your last comment counts a lot, kusema kweli Watanzania tunapashwa kumshukuru Mungu kwa kutujalia UMOJA - mkuu mimi nilesama maksudi ili Serikali ya Mozambique ikae ikijua kwamba kuna ma afisa wasaliti ndani ya jeshi lao wanao hunga mkono RENAMO, cha kufanya sasa hivi ni ku-deal na mtu huyu hatari SUMMARILY na wala siwezi kushangaa kama hakuna baadhi ya ma RAIS vichwa maji wanao mpa ushauri Dhalakhama (sijui kama nimepatia jina) avuruge Msumbiji ili wa tie up nchi za SADCC zipoteze muda wao kijeshi wakimshughulikia, binafsi naona safari hii hatachukua round kutokana na kukosa resources za kuendesha vita kwa muda mrefu.

Joram M said:

Hiyo itauwa gas tu. Asimilia 100 iko kwenye RENAMO controlled area! Karibu na Ntwara. Tuone drama sasa

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Let's remember that the return of RENAMO may have some dominal effects across east and central Africa, meaning even the Mtwara residents may draw some inspiration from their neighbours across the border. Remember, RENAMO isn't all that bad! They have the right to express and voice their rights, and if nobody listen to their demands or rights to the point where they feel like being marginalized, then the last resort that can make the incumbent pay attention and listen to RENAMO would be war!

Mozambique ex-rebels want slice of resource cake: analysts

By Johannes Myburgh 7 hours ago


.Renamo's announcement this week that its peace deal with the ruling Frelimo was dead came amid a spate of tit-for-tat skirmishes that marked one of the worst flare-ups since the 1992 end of a 16-year civil conflict.

Mozambique's main opposition group is demanding more political and military representation but Joseph Hanlon of Britain's Open University argued "the current dispute has money at its base".

Renamo lost the war to Frelimo, lost again in peacetime elections and is now afraid of missing out on the windfall from some of the world's largest untapped coal and gas reserves.

"Renamo and its military men see the Frelimo leadership with big cars, expensive houses, and businesses," Hanlon said.
"As the gap between rich and poor increases in a way that could not be imagined at the time of the peace accord in 1992, key Renamo figures want to be on the side of the wealthy."


With Brazilian, Australian and Indian energy giants setting up shop in a country long reeling from a war that killed around one million people, Mozambique's growth rate is now among Africa's highest at around 7 percent.

"So now the temptation is to link mineral deposits and international interest in Mozambique, the growing economy, as having triggered the reaction from Renamo," said Trevor Maisiri, of the International Crisis Group think tank.

The ex-Communist ruling party's leaders have capitalised on the new riches, but "Frelimo is seen as unwilling to share the growing cake," said Hanlon.
View galle

Mozambique's President Armando Guebuza speaks in Sofala on October 24, 2013, calling for dialogue an …

In November 2012 Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama returned to his erstwhile base camp in the central Gorongosa mountains and retrained some of his veterans.
Over the past six months his militants have attacked police posts and civilian vehicles on the main north-south highway.

Officially Renamo is demanding changes to the electoral law and its fighters' absorption into the government forces, but over 20 rounds of peace talks since December have collapsed.
Renamo is a spent force
While Renamo has legitimate concerns, like Frelimo's politicisation of the state bodies and biased electoral system, Dhlakama lacks "clear vision of what he hopes to accomplish", said Hanlon.

With talks floundering and violence simmering, the government chose to limit the risk of an escalation by seizing Dhlakama's base on Monday, according to Charles Laurie from Maplecroft risk analysts.

Frelimo wanted to "contain the capability of Renamo of engaging in violence and then suppressing that capacity while trying to seek a broad solution at the bargaining table," he told AFP.

Renamo has made inflammatory statements in the past, but Monday's declaration that peace was over followed the dramatic government raid on the rebel's sanctum.
"One by action, the other through a press conference said 'we're back in 1992'," said Elisabete Azevedo-Harman, from UK-based think tank Chatham House.
View galle

A pictures taken on October 17, 2013 shows prisoners belonging to former Mozambican rebel movement R …

Both denied wanting to return to war through a negotiator's comments Tuesday, but there is still suspense over what will happen next.
Analysts agree Renamo is a spent force of ageing fighters not thought to stretch far beyond Dhlakama's personal armed guard of under 500 men, though political support remains strong in the north.

"Renamo retains the capacity to undertake isolated guerilla-style attacks but it doesn't possess the military capability or indeed the social support to undertake any kind of broader offensive," said Maplecroft's Laurie.

Rather, it seems the movement might target key infrastructure in central Mozambique's Sofala province to embarrass the government with international investors.

"The peace agreement annulment could impact coal and cargo shipments to Beira Port or along the Sena railway line," said Robert Besseling, Africa analyst at IHS Country Risk.
Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto and Brazil's Vale use the railway to export coal from Tete in the northwest. It was rebuilt only recently after Renamo blew up the line in the civil war.

Meanwhile attacks on the main highway would threaten passenger and cargo transport, added Besseling.
Gas fields off the shore of northernmost Cabo Delgado province should be safe, according to Chatham's Azevedo-Harman.

"Renamo support never was really very strong in the area where the gas is," she said.
The latest flare-up has caused alarm among foreign diplomats but observers are split as to whether the investment pouring into Mozambique will take a hit.

what renamo fight is for national resource equit and closing the gap on richs and poors does it sense?

with the gap of rich and poor gettin bigger obvious they will get a lot of fighters through sympathy and promise of better life this analyst should not underestimate the power of the hungry people!!

Kashishi said:

Mozambique ex-rebels want slice of resource cake: analysts

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Maputo (AFP) - Mozambique's ex-rebellion is too weak to force a new civil war and it recent return to arms is a desperate bid to grab a share of the energy bonanza reshaping the country, analysts said.

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Kiongozi wao anaonekana kachoka, na askari wenyewe wanaonekana wamechoka, wengine hata meno hawana tena. Kweli jeshi la Msumbiji litashindwa kuwakabili hawa? These guys are dream soldiers, they just want to relive the "old good days".