MOZAMBIQUE – This country's president insisted that there would not be another civil war. The Agence France-Presse reported that president Armando Guebuza said the country was not in a situation of instability.
This after Renamo annulled the peace accord signed in 1992 which ended the country's 16-year war. The Mozambican army staged an attack against the rebel group and had taken over two of its military bases. The first one was near the Gorongosa Mountains in central Mozambique last Monday.
Presidential spokesman Mr Edson Macuacua had revealed that a second military base was raided this week in Maringue. “There was an exchange of fire but no loss of human life,” he said.
Renamo leader Mr Afonso Dhlakama survived the first attack, but his right-hand man, a lawmaker, was killed, the group claimed. Since that attack, there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence in the north, which the government claims are reprisal attacks by Renamo. But Guebuza, said the clashes were restricted to one area and were short term.
“I don't think there is a problem in the medium and long term and we are doing our best to stop it as soon as possible,” he said.”Things that are happening are localised, and we know where it is happening.” Guebuza personally blamed his old civil-war rival Dhlakama for the simmering conflict that has rocked the centre of the country.
“Apparently he sees himself as a loser and uses whatever remains of his forces to try to prove that he can impose on the government his own decisions,” Guebuza said.
Agri-Samoz president Mr Lester Mouten said the conflict between government had not affected any of their farming members countrywide. “These incidents have also not affected any areas where any of the lodges for tourists are based. The majority of tourist destinations are further south.”
Last week the UN secretary general Mr Ban Ki-Moon announced in a press release that he was concerned by the recent escalation of violence in the country between government forces and Renamo.
He called on both parties to refrain from any act that could threaten peace and stability.
“I urge them to fully engage in an inclusive dialogue to resolve differences within the established democratic order, and to ensure that the country continues to achieve social inclusion and sustainable development for all.”
