The Director of Operations of the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM), Chongo Vidigal, announced Saturday in Maputo that the separatist Renamo group, the self-proclaimed military junta of Mozambique's largest opposition party, already has a new leader, elected last week in the bush.

"I can't go into details about the names," Vidigal said, "but I have information that the Military Junta has promoted new cadres to its leadership. The suffrage took place in a forest, in Gorongosa district, last week.

The first leader of that group of armed men was led by the now deceased Renamo member Mariano Nhongo. He refused to accept the August 2019 Peace Agreement signed between the current president of the political party, Ossufo Momade, and the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi.

Nhongo died in a confrontation with government forces in the Cheringoma district of Sofala on October 11 last year. Since then, there have been no more attacks attributed to the Junta.

Since then, it was believed that Mariano Nhongo's death would mean the end of the Junta, but Vidigal told reporters that the Junta has elected a new leadership.

Vidigal also said that the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) of former Renamo militia members is progressing, and the two parties have committed to fulfilling their responsibilities.

"Steps are being taken," he said, acknowledging, however, that there are sometimes missed deadlines, "but we anticipate a good conclusion so that peace can be achieved."

Source: clubofmozambique