Renamo Suspends Mozambique Ceasefire, Vows to Step Up Attacks
BY FOREIGN STAFF, JUNE 06 2014, 08:58
MOZAMBIQUE’s revived rebel movement Renamo has called off a truce with government forces, warning on Thursday that armed attacks would spread from the main north-south highway across the country.
"Across the entire national territory, there is no more ceasefire," the group’s spokesman Antonio Muchanga said, amid reports of strikes against vehicles travelling in central province of Sofala.
"In order to save human lives, we ask people not to use the roads because, at the moment, there is conflict," he told AFP.
The movement, which is also the official opposition, earlier this week called off the truce leader Afonso Dhlakama announced only last month. Protracted peace talks with the Frelimo-led government are deadlocked over Renamo’s demand for its members to occupy half the positions in the police and military.
While Renamo still maintains it will take part in national and presidential polls later this year, it warned the conflict could intensify. "The country will see armed attacks of greater intensity," said Mr Muchanga. "I believe that if the situation continues, this could spread across the country."
Local media reported at least four deaths this week on vehicles travelling on the EN1 highway between the Save River and the town of Muxungue. Police declined to confirm the incidents earlier and the military was unreachable for comment.
Armed forces have been escorting convoys across the 100km stretch of road just north of the boundary between Inhambane and Sofala provinces since last April, when suspected Renamo gunmen began targeting civilian vehicles.
The French embassy issued a travel warning for Sofala province on Thursday, citing "new attacks, claimed by Renamo ... with reports of several killed and wounded, including civilians."
Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama returned to his bush camp two years ago, accusing the government of reneging on a 1992-peace treaty that ended 16 years of hostilities.
Government forces overran his base in Gorongosa last October, and since then the two groups have been locked in tit-for-tat skirmishes in Sofala.
AFP
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| Map of Southern African state of Mozambique. |
MOZAMBIQUE’s revived rebel movement Renamo has called off a truce with government forces, warning on Thursday that armed attacks would spread from the main north-south highway across the country.
"Across the entire national territory, there is no more ceasefire," the group’s spokesman Antonio Muchanga said, amid reports of strikes against vehicles travelling in central province of Sofala.
"In order to save human lives, we ask people not to use the roads because, at the moment, there is conflict," he told AFP.
The movement, which is also the official opposition, earlier this week called off the truce leader Afonso Dhlakama announced only last month. Protracted peace talks with the Frelimo-led government are deadlocked over Renamo’s demand for its members to occupy half the positions in the police and military.
While Renamo still maintains it will take part in national and presidential polls later this year, it warned the conflict could intensify. "The country will see armed attacks of greater intensity," said Mr Muchanga. "I believe that if the situation continues, this could spread across the country."
Local media reported at least four deaths this week on vehicles travelling on the EN1 highway between the Save River and the town of Muxungue. Police declined to confirm the incidents earlier and the military was unreachable for comment.
Armed forces have been escorting convoys across the 100km stretch of road just north of the boundary between Inhambane and Sofala provinces since last April, when suspected Renamo gunmen began targeting civilian vehicles.
The French embassy issued a travel warning for Sofala province on Thursday, citing "new attacks, claimed by Renamo ... with reports of several killed and wounded, including civilians."
Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama returned to his bush camp two years ago, accusing the government of reneging on a 1992-peace treaty that ended 16 years of hostilities.
Government forces overran his base in Gorongosa last October, and since then the two groups have been locked in tit-for-tat skirmishes in Sofala.
AFP
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