Since 2013, the political situation in Mozambique has come to a head. The two parties Frelimo (Frente de Libertacao de Moçambique) and Renamo (Resistencia Nacional Moçambicana) regularly engaged in armed fighting. The attempted assassination of the Renamo leader in September 2015 further exacerbated the situation. The outcome of this conflict cannot be predicted.
Catherine Hollinger, Programme Coordinator Mozambique
We had been looking forward to our project trip to Southern Africa for a long time, a trip that would take us first to South Africa and then on to Mozambique. At the end of September we started! But just before we were about to fly from South Africa to Maputo, the capital of Moçambique, there was alarming news from the country. At the end of September there were some bad incidents which show how tense the domestic political situation in Moçambique really is at the moment. There were riots between the ruling party Frelimo (Frente de Libertacao de Moçambique) and the opposition party Renamo (Resistencia Nacional Moçambicana).
The cancellation of the project trip was the right decision
When we heard about bad conflicts in our project region Chimoio, we had to cancel the project trip. It was not easy to get secure information. But in retrospect our decision turned out to be very correct.
Political assassination on the Renamo
On 25 September 2015, an armed convoy of Afonso Dhlakama, leader of the opposition party Renamo, was fired upon on the road from Chimoio to Inchope by heavily armed men in civilian clothing. The driver of a public bus was also hit and the bus collided with a tanker. Several civilians were killed. Although there was never an official comment on this attack, it is considered certain that the attack was government-led and aimed to kill Dhlakama. However, it remains unclear who exactly opened fire.
Riots are breaking out in Chimoio
But Dhlakama was not injured and retreated to his hiding place in Gorongossa National Park. As a result of these events, people took to the streets around Chimoio to demonstrate. During the demonstrations a massive presence of Renamo fighters was reported and several shootings and fires were observed. The riots forced the authorities to close the schools and people fled from their homes.
Chief of the Renamo in hiding
There have been no negotiations between the government and Dhlakama since the incidents. After Dhlakama left his hiding place in the direction of Beira, the second largest city in Mozambique, he was immediately arrested by the government (accompanied by tanks and heavily armed military). After his release, Dhlakama went into hiding - nobody knows where he is at the moment.
Mood in Mozambique very tense
Since the latest events this autumn, the situation has become increasingly acute - Mozambique is facing another civil war. The peace process, in which Renamo fighters should have been integrated into the state police and military, has come to a serious standstill. Instead, the government is relying on forcefully disarming the Renamo. There have already been numerous armed clashes, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The all-clear signal issued by the government on 23 November 2015 not to continue disarmament and to engage in talks is met with mistrust.
Desire for peace and stability
The vast majority of the population of Mozambique wants peace and stability in their country. And our partner organisations are also committed to helping children and young people every day to give them a perspective in their country. This work is being made massively more difficult by these political conflicts. It is therefore all the more important that we work with these partners in these places and continue to support the children and young people there. What the further negotiations between the parties will look like is completely open.
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