Mozambique’s ex-rebel opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama: A villain and a hero.
Afonso Dhlakama: Mozambiques long-serving opposition leader
Afonso Dhlakama (1953 – 2018)
Dhlakama was born in the village of Mangunde, in Mozambique's central Sofala province. He joined the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) in 1975, the year Mozambique gained indepedence from Portugal. In 1976 he broke ranks and co-founded RNM (National Resistance of Mozambique) to fight FRELIMO.
Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992)
In the wake of independence, a civil war erupted between the RNM and the fledgling socialist-backed Mozambican government. RNM was armed by white minority regimes in Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe) and South Africa. RNM changed its name to RENAMO. Dhlakama succeeded Andre Matsangaíssa as leader after he dies in combat in 1979.
A peace accord after 16 years of war
Around one million people were killed and miliions more displaced during the Mozambican civil war (1977 to 1992) . The war ended with the signing of the Rome Peace Accord between Dhlakama and the government in 1992. By then RENAMO had lost a key ally in South Africa, where apartheid was crumbling. The peace deal ended the single party rule and Dhlakama began calling himself "father of democracy".
First multiparty elections in 1994
Mozambique had its first multi-party elections in 1994. It was the first of many elections in which RENAMO was defeated and Dhlakama lost the presidential race. Dhlakama claimed victory at the polls in 1999 and blamed vote-rigging for his defeat. After every presidential election that followed he complained about injustice and fraud, to the frustration of RENAMO supporters.
Conflict reignites in 2013
The conflict re-ignited in 2013 after Dhlakama returned to his old civil war headquarters in the central Gorongosa region and called for changes to the electoral system and an end to discrimination against RENAMO supporters. FRELIMO rejected his call, Dhlakama revoked the 1992 peace accord and fighting erupted in central Mozambique.
RENAMO never laid down its weapons
During the 20 years of peace between 1992 and 2012, RENAMO kept some armed units that were not integrated into the Mozambican Army or demobilized as stipulated in the Rome Peace Accord. That made a return to war easier for RENAMO. But even again at war, RENAMO maintained its presence in parliament, without participating in local elections which saw the rise of a new opposition party MDM.
Dhlakama signed a cease-fire in 2014
After several months of low scale armed conflict, the then president Armando Guebuza (left) and Dhlakama signed a cease-fire in 2014. An end to fighting was set as a condition for Dhlakama to run for president in 2014. After his defeat at the polls, Dhlakama retreated to his civil war headquarters and Mozambicans faced another civil war.
Dhlakama survives 2015 attack on convoy
In September 2015, Dhlakama survived an attack on his convoy in central Manica province. RENAMO considered it an attempted assassination. The international community called for a peaceful solution to the conflict that prompted thousands of Mozambicans to flee to neighboring countries.
Raid on Dhlakama's house in 2015
In October 2015, police raided Dhlakama's home in the RENAMO stronghold of Beira, Mozambique's second-largest city. Local RENAMO leaders found at the house were detained.
Recent peace talks
Dhlakama started direct talks with President Filipe Nyusi, who succeeded Guebuza, to reach a new peace agreement. Without mediators, they have reached a number of consensuses. In February 2018 they agreed to modify the constitution to allow more decentralization. But until Dhlakama's death on 3 May 2018 due to health problems, parliament had not voted for the necessary changes.
Dhlakama's death leaves an unfinished peace procress
Dhlakama died at his civil war hideaway in Gorongosa on May 3. Mozambicans attended funeral services on May 9 and 10 at venues in the Sofala province. Dhlakama left his party with the difficult task to complete the peace agreement and to demobilize the armed wing of the party, integrating them into the national army.