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The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992
«July 1988»
Dossier MZ-0020
101. Renamo in Trouble? Splinter Groups Fight Each Other, Leadership Crisis After Fernandes' Death
Above: Two damaged trucks abandoned by the side of the road after a Renamo attack. Photo: Kok Nam.
The Maputo weekly news magazine Tempo published a 13-page analysis of Renamo under the title "Origens do Banditismo Armado", with footnotes, commenting that although the piece did not include much in the way of new facts, it was nevertheless a contribution that deepened understanding of the origins of armed banditry in Mozambique.
Fighting reportedly broke out between Renamo factions in Zambézia, with Gimo Phiri breaking away with his UNAMO group, apparently because of tensions around the dominance of Ndau-speakers in the rebel leadership.
Renamo continued systematically to smuggle precious stones, ivory, and pau-preto out of the country, according to testimony from former fighters who surrendered under the terms of the amnesty.
Obs.: Multiple reports continued to appear of military engagements issued officially by the government in Maputo, as well as counter-claims published in communiqués from Renamo representatives in Lisbon. It is important to realise that the numbers of casualties and surrenders mentioned in these reports are highly unreliable, and should be treated with great caution. Given what is known about the size of the opposing forces, the casualty rates would seem to have likely been unsustainable for any period of time.
Click on the yellow folder image below to download an unsorted zipped archive of documents and press clippings in PDF format concerning the conflict between the Mozambican government and the MNR/Renamo in July 1988.
