RENAMO

The Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO; Portuguese: Resistência Nacional Moçambicana) is a conservative political party in Mozambique led by Afonso Dhlakama. It fought against the FRELIMO in the Mozambican Civil War and against the ZANU movement led by Robert Mugabe from 1975 to 1992.

RENAMO was founded in 1975 following Mozambique's independence as an anti-Communist political organization, sponsored by the Central Intelligence Organisation of Rhodesia. André Matsangaissa, an ex-FRELIMO army commander, was its first leader. The Ian Smith administration in Rhodesia sought to prevent the FRELIMO government from providing a safe haven for Zimbabwe African National Union militants seeking to overthrow the Rhodesian government. Matsangaissa was killed by government soldiers on 17 October 1979 in Sofala Province. Following a violent succession struggle, Afonso Dhlakama became the new RENAMO leader. During the Mozambican Civil War of the 1980s, RENAMO also received support from South Africa. In the United States, the CIA and conservative lobbying for support to RENAMO, which was strongly resisted by the State Department which would "not recognize or negotiate with RENAMO". The British government under Margaret Thatcher did not view the civil war in Mozambique as a part of the Cold War in the extent that could have been thought and when FRELIMO closed the border to Rhodesia it was in fit well with British interests against the rebel colony while the Rhodesian government supported RENAMO.

FRELIMO also forced Mugabe to accept the Lancaster House Agreement for the end to the war in Rhodesia.