Former Renamo Guerrillas Protest Against Party Leadership in Mozambique
Former armed members of Renamo protested at their provincial delegation in Nampula, demanding the removal of party leaders including Ossufo Momade and provincial delegate Abiba Aba. The protest is driven by discontent over party leadership and recent electoral losses. Former combatants are pressing for recognition and dialogue, citing divisions and unmet promises regarding their post-conflict integration.
On Tuesday morning, former guerrillas of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) staged a protest by closing the party’s provincial delegation in Nampula. They demanded the resignation of provincial delegate Abiba Aba, citing her arrogance and lack of collaboration with former combatants. Carolina Yahaia, a participant, expressed frustrations regarding the leadership of Ossufo Momade, the party’s president, stating, “We don’t want provincial delegate Abiba Aba, she should leave… She and our president Ossufo Momade should leave.”
The protesters are challenging Ossufo Momade’s leadership, particularly following the party’s diminished presence in parliament after the October 9 elections, where Renamo secured only 28 seats, losing its status as the second-largest political entity. This shift prompted members to demand a delayed National Council meeting, initially scheduled for March, in order to address their concerns regarding leadership and party direction.
The closure of the Nampula delegation forms part of a broader strategy to apply pressure on current leadership to resign. Ernesto Douglas, another former guerrilla, articulated that divisions within the party have exacerbated since Momade assumed control after the death of the iconic Afonso Dhlakama, asserting, “Ever since Ossufo Momade’s leadership took over, it began to divide us.”
The protesters have sought to engage with party leadership regarding their grievances without success, contributing to their unrest. The party’s spokesperson, Nelson Carvalho, stated that the closure of the delegation aimed to prevent confrontations among members and clarified that it was not initiated by the protesters.
Ossufo Momade’s leadership has faced scrutiny due to a notably poor electoral performance of 5.81% in the recent presidential polls, the lowest for a candidate associated with Renamo. The political landscape was altered significantly since the end of the Mozambican civil war, which ended in 1992 with the General Peace Agreement between Renamo’s founder Afonso Dhlakama and then-President Joaquim Chissano.
The recent protest by former Renamo guerrillas highlights the discontent within the party regarding its leadership under Ossufo Momade. Concerns over the party’s direction and lack of engagement with former combatants have intensified after disappointing electoral results. The protest aims to compel leadership changes amid demands for better coordination and representation of former fighters. The unfolding events reflect the ongoing tensions within Mozambique’s political landscape following a prolonged history of civil strife.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
