Mozambique: the opposition repeats its promise to disarm despite electoral disputes

The main opposition party in Mozambique, Renamo, on Monday repeated its promise to disarm its troops and disassociated itself from attacks by a group of dissidents, despite the electoral fraud it blames the regime.

« Renamo’s residual forces are in Gorogonsa (center, Renamo’s stronghold) and are quietly awaiting the process of their demobilization, disarmament and social reintegration, » said Jose Manteigas, a spokesman for the party. in front of the press.

« We are distancing ourselves from attacks in the center of the country, » Manteigas said. Former rebellion of the civil war (1975-1992), the Renamo signed last August with the regime of President Filipe Nyusi a peace agreement which provides, inter alia, the demobilization of its military wing, which took up arms in 2013 .

But a fraction of the party rejected this agreement, termed « treason », and has since led armed raids in the center of the country that have caused several civilian casualties.

Last week, police spokesman Orlando Mudumane accused Renamo of spearheading a series of attacks that left five dead, including two policemen October in the province of Sofala (center).

Numerous « irregularities » in elections
« We regret that the spokesman of the police of the Republic of Mozambique has, in an irresponsible and slanderous way, accused Renamo of these attacks, » Jose Manteigas said Monday.

The leader of the dissident Renamo faction, Mariano Nhongo, has since assumed the paternity of this violence.

Despite the signing of the peace agreement, relations between Renamo and the government tightened in the general elections of October 15.

According to the results published by the Electoral Commission, outgoing President Nyusi was re-elected for five years and his party Frelimo, in power since Mozambique’s independence in 1975, regained its absolute majority in parliament.

Like the rest of the opposition, Renamo has been screaming about the fraud ever since and has filed an action for annulment of the vote.

Mozambican civil society and several foreign observer missions have also pointed to numerous « irregularities » in the conduct of the polls.