Beira (Mozambique) (AIM) – Gunmen from the opposition party Renamo on Monday morning attacked a coal train belonging to the Brazilian mining company Vale as it passed through Inhamitanga, in Cheringoma district in the central Mozambican province of Sofala.
Source: Another attack on Sena railway line – The Zimbabwean 27.07.2016
The train was ambushed as it travelled along the Sena Railway Line, which runs between the Moatize coal basin and the port of Beira. The two drivers were seriously injured in the assault and taken to hospital in Cheringoma for treatment.
This is not the first time that members of Renamo’s militia have attacked the line. In early June two attacks were carried out on trains in the same area. As a result of these actions, Vale had suspended its trains along the route. However, just over a week ago the service had been reinstated.
The attack took place just days after international mediators began working with a Joint Commission set up by the government and Renamo to break the current political impasse. Well-known mediation experts are working with high-ranking officials from both sides to discuss how to address the demands of Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama that he take power in the country’s six northern provinces (Manica, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia, Nampula, and Niassa).
This was not an isolated incident. Over the weekend two truck drivers driving along the EN7 highway in the district of Barue in the central province of Manica were ambushed. Both drivers suffered minor injuries which were treated at the rural hospital in Catandica.
COMMENTS