RENAMO: From military confrontation to peaceful democratic engagement, 1976-2009

Abstract

This article examines RENAMO (Resistensia Nacional Mozambicana) in the context of Mozambican politics. The
study seeks to illustrate that although the movement was widely cast as a band of armed bandits (bandidos
armandos), it was founded on firm political principles of democracy. It will be argued that any link by the
movement to forces of imperialism and retrogression was merely a matter of expediency rather than being
puppetish. Again the study will show that RENAMO’s resort to armed confrontation was part of its strategy to
push for the democratic agenda. The study will also reflect on RENAMO’s change of tactics from armed
confrontation to peaceful engagement and argue that the change formed the core of the movement’s quest for
peace and democracy. It will be revealed that ever since its participation in the democratic process, RENAMO
has not returned to war in spite of the contested results in the country’s elections and the various threats made
by the movement.
Key words:, ceasefire, civil war, Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), general peace
agreement (GPA), re-education programme, Resistensia Nacional Mozambicana (RENAMO).