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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Mozambique Forces Overrun Second ex-Rebel Base |
| 2013-10-30 |
| [An Nahar] Mozambique troops have seized a second military base of the former Renamo rebels, the presidency said Tuesday, as tit-for-tat attacks raise concerns of renewed conflict after two decades of peace in the country. Presidential front man Edson Macuacua, said the latest raid occurred on Monday in Maringue in central Mozambique. "There was an exchange of fire but no loss of human life," he said. It was the second attack on a base belonging to the rebel-movement-turned-opposition-party in just over a week. Last Monday, government forced captured Renamo's main Sathundjira bush camp in the central mountains of central Gorongosa. The assault prompted Renamo to declare void a 1992 peace deal that ended the 16-year civil war the group launched against the socialist Frelimo state shortly after independence from Portugal. Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama survived last week's base siege but his right-hand man, a politician, was killed, the group claimed. Since that attack, there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence in what the government claims are reprisal attacks by Renamo, while the group has accused coppers of beating up party members. The presidential front man on Tuesday said by seizing the Renamo bases, the government had militarily weakened the ex-rebels. "Their two main bases were Sathundjira and Maringue and they have been deactivated," said Macuacua. "They are weak at the moment," he said. "The best thing now is for them to talk and stop doing these raids." On Saturday there was an attack on three civilian vehicles on the southern African country's main highway which killed one and injured 10. The government pointed the finger at Renamo, which denied responsibility. Last Tuesday, armed gunnies attacked a cop shoppe in the Maringue district near Renamo's fallen base camp in an apparent act of retaliation, with no casualties reported. Renamo became the main opposition party after the 1992 agreement, but it has lost every national election since. Last November, Dhlakama returned to Sathundjira, saying he would retrain his soldiers for a revolution. Government troops have been reinforced in the area since then, and there have been repeated festivities. Officially, Renamo is demanding a bigger role in electoral bodies and its fighters' integration into the military. But analysts say the group really wants a cut of lucrative revenues from new coal mines and upcoming offshore gas exploitation. Despite belligerent statements, both Frelimo and Renamo representatives have said they do not want to return to war. The civil war between the two sides killed one million people and left the economy in ruins. Analysts say the former rebel movement is not a major military threat and could wage a localized guerrilla-style insurgency at most. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Mmm, I do wonder, indeed, who the backers of Renamo could be, if there were to be any, now that the Rhodies have gone and the South Africans are titz-up commies. It would be a delight to learn that for once The O had done something right! ( I can dream, can't I)? |
| Posted by: Hupineng Glineth5389 2013-10-30 15:06 |
| #2 Why did they put the e next to the w? I ment seems. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2013-10-30 12:59 |
| #1 Swwms rather safe to over-run an ex-rebel base. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2013-10-30 12:58 |