Maputo, 22 Sep (AIM) – Members of Mozambique’s riot force (UIR) have been taking control since Saturday of Renamo’s political headquarters in the central city of Quelimane.
The political delegation had been locked down by the party’s demobilized fighters, who thought the measure would force Ossufo Momade, who is blamed for Renamo’s poor results in last year’s general elections, to resign from the party’s leadership.
The riot force has occupied the Quelimane District Delegation and the Zambezia Provincial Delegation for reasons that remain unknown. When they arrived, the demobilized fighters were inside the building.
The party’s Maputo headquarters and Momade’s personal offices had been reopened in June following weeks of protests against Momade’s leadership. The protesters were eventually removed with gunfire and tear gas by UIR, which also detained over 50 men.
Renamo, which used to be Mozambique’s main opposition movement, now faces a moment of crisis as some members have been putting pressure on the current party leader Ossufo Momade to resign. They blame Momade for Renamo’s poor showing in last year’s general elections. This movement to sack Momade has once closed down almost all the Renamo provincial delegations.
Am/
