No clashes between government forces and RENAMO were observed this year. However, some members of RENAMO disagreed with the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement reached between the Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and the leader of the former rebel movement RENAMO. The disagreement led to the splintering of the RENAMO movement with General Mariano Nhongo establishing the RENAMO Military Junta (RMJ), which was estimated to have 500 combatants across eleven RENAMO bases.[1]
[1] Cascais, Antonio. Mozambique peace deal threatened. Deutsche Welle (DW). https://www.dw.com/en/no-peace-no-election-in-mozambique-renamo-junta-leader-tells-dw/a-50198676
No clashes between government forces and RENAMO were observed this year in ACLED as of September 18.[1]
[1] Raleigh, Clionadh, Andrew Linke, Håvard Hegre and Joakim Karlsen. 2010. Introducing ACLED – Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Journal of Peace Research 47(5), 651-660.
The December 27, 2016 ceasefire was extended an additional 60 days on January 3, 2017.[1] The ceasefire was extended indefinitely on May 4.[2] There were very few clashes between RENAMO and government security forces in 2017. [3]
[1] Mucari, Manual, “Mozambique’s opposition extends ceasefire to aid peace talks,” Reuters, January 3, 2017.
[2] Mucari, Manual, “Mozambique rebel movement Renamo extends truce indefinitely,” Reuters, May 4, 2017.
[3] Raleigh, Clionadh, Andrew Linke, Håvard Hegre and Joakim Karlsen. 2010. Introducing ACLED – Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Journal of Peace Research 47(5), 651-660.
Clashes between RENAMO and government security forces became more common in 2016.[1] Third party mediators arrived in the country in July for talks but left in mid-December without negotiating a ceasefire. However, the government and RENAMO announced a 7-day ceasefire starting December 27.[2][3]
[1] Raleigh, Clionadh, Andrew Linke, Håvard Hegre and Joakim Karlsen. 2010. Introducing ACLED – Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Journal of Peace Research 47(5), 651-660.
[2] Pearce, Justin. “Mozambique’s unexpected truce still hangs in the balance,” The Conversation, January 17, 2017.
[3] “Mozambique’s opposition agrees 7-day truce after call with president,” Reuters, December 27, 2016.
There were several direct clashes between members of RENAMO and the Mozambican police in 2015, according to ACLED.[1] Notably, in September, a convoy including RENAMO leader Afonso Dhlakama were involved in a shootout with the police in Gondola. RENAMO described the attack as a government ambush, while the government claimed police responded to the convoy’s attack on a civilian minibus taxi.[2] In June, RENAMO threatened to use its forces to reclaim control in provinces that voted for Dhlakama in the 2014 General Election following the defeat of a bill that would have allowed RENAMO to appoint the government in these provinces.[3][4] In November, the government Interior Minister threatened to disarm RENAMO by force.[5]
[1] Raleigh, Clionadh, Andrew Linke, Håvard Hegre and Joakim Karlsen. 2010. Introducing ACLED – Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Journal of Peace Research 47(5), 651-660.
[2] “Death toll in Mozambique Renamo shootout rises to 20: Police,” Agence France Presse, September 27, 2015.
[3] “Mozambique; Renamo threatens to set up arm- report,” Africa News, June 12, 2015.
[4] “Mozambique’s president says to preserve national unity at all cost,” Xinhua, June 26, 2015.
[5] “Interior Minister promises to disarm Renamo,” Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique, November 4, 2015.
The Declaration of Cessation of Military Hostilities included an immediate ceasefire.
Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) notes low-level clashes between protesters associated with RENAMO and police continued through the end of 2014.[1] However, the violence was low level and did not seem to be coordinated by RENAMO, and produced no fatalities.
[1] Raleigh, Clionadh, Andrew Linke, Håvard Hegre and Joakim Karlsen. 2010. Introducing ACLED – Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. Journal of Peace Research 47(5), 651-660.
No further development after the passage of the Amnesty Bill in July 2019. All who faced criminal and security accusations related to the RENAMO insurrection received amnesty.
No further development after the passage of the Amnesty Bill in July 2019. All who had criminal and security accusations related to the RENAMO insurrection received amnesty.
On July 29, 2019, the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, passed the amnesty law that granted the broadest possible amnesty to all accused of security and military crimes related to the RENAMO insurrection. Following the passage of this amnesty bill, RENAMO hostility effectively came to an end.[1]
[1] Mavhinga, Dewa. 2019. “Broad Amnesty in Mozambique Likely to Fuel Future Abuses.”
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/07/30/broad-amnesty-mozambique-likely-fuel-future-abuses
No further developments observed this year.
