Filipina teacher killed in Mozambique rebel ambush

MAPUTO, Mozambique – A Filipina teacher was killed in an ambush on a passenger bus by Renamo rebels in Mozambique, police said Tuesday, May 17, as insurgent unrest rises in the country’s central region.

The attack took place on Sunday in Murrotone, near Mocuba town.

“The coach was ambushed by Renamo men, resulting in the death of a female foreigner who was Filipino, and 4 others were injured,” local police spokesman Ernesto Serrote told Agence France-Presse.

The Philippines embassy in neighboring South Africa identified the woman as a teacher who was working in Mozambique.

“Her name can’t be revealed at this stage because we are still busy with internal processes,” embassy spokesman Joselito Chad Jacinto told Agence France-Presse.

According to local media, the attack was close to a base of the Renamo group, which has clashed regularly with government troops in recent months.

The attackers signalled for the bus to stop, but the driver did not comply, reported the CanalMoz newspaper.

Two other civilian vehicles have been attacked by Renamo in the last few days, according to reports.

Restive central Mozambique has seen a spike in deadly clashes between security forces and Renamo.

Renamo, which operates as both the largest opposition party and an insurgent group, fought a 16-year war against the government that ended in 1992.

The party rejected the results of the 2014 elections, which were won by Frelimo, the movement that led the country to independence from Portugal in 1975 and has ruled ever since.

Renamo rebel chief Afonso Dhlakama has vowed to win control over some provinces and has overseen the spate of attacks that started late last year in a bid to force the government to accede to their demands. – Rappler.com