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The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992
«February 1992»
Dossier MZ-0020
144. Was a Chemical Weapon used at Ngungwe?
Above: Government soldiers in the bush during the 16-year Mozambican conflict between the Government and the Renamo rebel movement.
Much of the reporting in February concerned allegations that chemical weapons may have been used during a battle for control of the Renamo base at Ngungwe, near the border with Transvaal. Survivors reported that a projectile exploded in mid-air and released a dense cloud of smoke that caused intense sensations of irritation and breathing difficulties. After a meeting of the Joint Security Commission, South African doctors came to Mozambique and took samples from the victims for further analysis.
However, in December 1994, the Surgeon-General of the SADF (South African Defence Force), Lt.-Gen. Niel Knobel, gave a "categorical assurance" that the SADF never possessed any chemical weapons capability, but that the apartheid regime nevertheless succeeded in "duping the world" into believing the contrary.
Consolidated Downloadable Zipped Files
Click on the yellow folder image below to download an unsorted zipped archive of documents and press clippings in PDF format concerning the armed conflict between Renamo/MNR and the Mozambican government in February 1992.
