The Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO), Mozambique’s opposition political party and paramilitary organization, has demanded that foreign mediation be engaged to settle the current conflict between itself and the elected government.  However, the government, represented in negotiations by agriculture minister Jose Pacheco, rejected this call, describing the conflict as an “internal” matter that must be resolved by the two groups themselves.

The 35-year old conflict between RENAMO and the government was reignited in 2013 after perceived increases in oppression by the government forces.  In response to police raids on RENAMO gatherings, a police station was attacked by RENAMO forces, and four police officers and on civilian were killed.  The renewed conflict edged into open civil war, and RENAMO has stated reluctance to trust the government representatives assigned to the negotiations.

Antonio Muchanga, spokesman for Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama, has accused the government of continuing to bombard suspected RENAMO encampments while supposedly negotiating in good faith, and the call for foreign mediation was renewed.  The previous conflict between the government and RENAMO was settled via mediation in 1992, a peaceful agreement that held for more than two decades.