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This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

RENAMO (National Resistance Movement Of Mozambique)

Relations between the NP* government in South Africa and that of Frelimo's Marxist regime in neighbouring Mozambique were far from cordial despite significant economic links between the two countries. Frelimo was open in its support of the ANC,* and had allowed it to establish a base in Maputo and to send MK* guerillas through Swaziland into South Africa. For its part, the Pretoria government gave military support to Renamo, the national resistance movement, in the hope of unseating Frelimo. In 1980 it went so far as to provide a camp for 2 000 Renamo troops in Phalaborwa on the South African side of the border. By the end of 1983 Renamo had made significant inroads into Frelimo's control and President Machel was obliged to negotiate with South Africa, resulting in the Nkomati Accord of March 1984. In terms of this treaty both sides agreed to refrain from interference in one another's internal affairs; nor would they allow organizations from either of the two countries to undertake acts of violence or terrorism against the other. South Africa did not, however, honour this agreement and (apparently without the knowledge of the minister of foreign affairs), the SADF* continued to give support to Renamo. Nor, it seems, did Frelimo keep to its commitment, because MK guerillas continued to filter through into South Africa from Mozambique.

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.