Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the largest opposition party, today questioned the European Union’s (EU) support for Rwanda and said Mozambique’s peace and sovereignty are “totally threatened” due to armed violence in the north of the country.
“More than ever, our peace and sovereignty are totally threatened by the horrors of terrorism in the north,” said party president Ossufo Momade during the fourth ordinary session of the Renamo National Council in Maputo.
For Ossufo Momade, the armed attacks in Cabo Delgado make Mozambique a “permanently insecure” country, and “far from achieving its economic independence,” noting that the violence occurs “precisely where the biggest natural resource exploitation project exists.
Renamo questioned the “millionaire support” given by the European Union (EU) to Rwanda to support Mozambican troops in Cabo Delgado, considering this to be one of the evidences that Mozambican sovereignty is “severely threatened”.
The European Council has made available 20 million euros for the Rwandan force deployed in Mozambique.
Ossufo Momade questioned the “legitimacy” of Rwanda receiving “support on behalf of Mozambicans”, saying the situation is the “height of state capture and alienation” from Mozambique.
“Literally, to the sadness of all of us, the country has been sold,” said the president of Mozambique’s largest opposition party.
Cabo Delgado province has faced an armed insurgency for five years with some attacks claimed by the extremist group Islamic State.
The insurgency has led to a military response since July 2021 with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of attacks have emerged south of the region and in neighbouring Nampula province.
The conflict has left one million people displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and about 4,000 dead, according to the ACLED conflict registration project.
Lusa
