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Mozambique Sees Worst Fighting In 20 Years

Mozambique Sees Worst Fighting In 20 Years

Fifty-two people died when Mozambique’s army clashed with militia loyal to the opposition Mozambique National Resistance Army, or Renamo, Bloomberg reports.

Renamo, once backed by the white-minority governments of Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe -and South Africa, fought a 17-year civil war against the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, or Frelimo, until signing a peace agreement in Rome in 1992. It has served as the main opposition party for 20 years. The clashes are the worst since the signing of the peace agreement, according to Bloomberg.

The clash at Maringue in central Mozambique resulted in the deaths of 17 soldiers and 41 members of the militia, an official said. The government did not confirm the casualties, said Manuel Mazuze, deputy national director for defense in Maputo, the capital.

A Renamo spokesman confirmed the clashes. “We will no longer show off numbers as in no case does it make us proud,” said Fernando Mazanga, a spokesman for Renamo.

The army attacked Renamo’s main base on Oct. 21 after a series of attacks on public transport and a government arms depot this year led to temporary closure of rail lines used by Rio Tinto Plc and Vale SA to export coal.

Following the attack on its base, Renamo said the 1992 peace agreement no longer is in effect.