The following is a timeline of events during the Mozambican Civil War as well as subsequent RENAMO insurgency (2013–2021).
1976 October André Matsangaissa, ex-FRELIMO fighters crossed his way into Rhodesia with intention to create armed group. Late 1976: First RENAMO base was established in Udzi town in Rhodesia near border with Mozambique.
1978 October 15 October: RENAMO seized Macossa town near the boundary between Manica and Sofala Provinces.
1979 July 15 July: RENAMO overran the town of Machaze. August 21–2 August: 300 RENAMO fighters led by André left Gadzi to establish permanent base in Mozambique. September 5 September: RENAMO established their base in Gorongossa region. October 5 October: 300 RENAMO fighters left Odzi to establish new base in Manica province. Once they arrived they divided into three groups. One, led by João Fombe, set up a base in the Mabate region, south of the Mussapa river. Second led by Vareia Manje, was deployed in Mucuti, north of Musspara river. Third group led by Magurende John established their base in Chinete. 17 October: André Matsangaissa was killed during failed attack on Gorongossa town.
November 5 November: 300 RENAMO fighters led by Lucas Muhlanga left Gadzi to establish their base at the top of Sitatonga mountain. From there 200 rebel continued with 100 fighters arriving at Chidoco and another 100 establishing their base in Muxungue.
1980 January 30 January: Government forces destroyed RENAMO headquarters at Gorongosa mountain during the Gorongosa Offensive. April RENAMO forces moved its headquarters to the Sitatonga mountain in the south. June 25 June: Armed forces launched Operation Leopard from multiple directions to expel rebels from Sitatonga. By late June they reached the foot of the mountain.
July 9 July: Armed forces destroyed rebel headquarters at Sitatonga mountain.The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992 «July-September 1980» Rebels moved to Chicarre.
1981 July 4 July: 300 RENAMO fighters led by Vareia Manje left Chicarre base to open new front in Inhambane province. He established new base in Chichôlane swamps. September 4 September: Government forces recaptured Machaze.The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992 «September 1981» October 29 October: Railway and road bridges over the Pungwe River were blown up by RENAMO fighters.Zimbabwe worries about RENAMO war threats, 22 December 2012 RENAMO fighters led by Calisto Meque and Magurende John left Chicarre towards Jambe. From there they split up with one group of fighters going to Gorongossa and other led by Meque going further north.
November 15 November: RENAMO fighters led by Mário Franque left Chicarre to link up with forces in Chichôlane area. It eventually established their camp in Banhine National Park in Gaza province.
December 4 December: Government forces launched offensvive on RENAMO base in Chicarre known as Operation Punishment (1981). 8 December: Government forces took control of Chicarre killing six rebels. 10 December: RENAMO fighters who left Jambe crossed the Beirra corridor on their way to Gorongossa. 12 December: RENAMO fighters led by Meque attacked the town of Mungári. 300 RENAMO fighters led by Dhlakama arrived in Gorongossa region. They established their new headquarters in Casa Banana.
1982 August RENAMO fighters led by Meque entered the Tete province after crossing Zambezi river west of Tambara. 11 August: 485 RENAMO fighters led by Abel Tsequete left Sadjunjira for Vila Fontes. After crossing the river they entered Zambezi province. RENAMO's central base in Zambezia was established in Mount Nampuli, former PRM base. 16 August: RENAMO captured Megaza, Pinda, Derre, Muandiua, Mepinha, Guerissa and Chire villages in Morrumbala district effectively isolating district capital. Government forces eventually recaptured Derre in late 1982 and Chire, Megaza and Pinda in 1983. Government forces launched Operation Cabana against rebels. 10,000 men supported by armored vehicles and heavy artillery attacked rebel positions in Gaza province. RENAMO seized Macossa. September In southern Manica province government launched their phase of Operation Cabana pushing south towards Save river. Around 100 fighters were parachuted from South Africa to Toma base in Inhambane.
December Zimbabwean forces launched Operation Lifeline with 1,500–2,000 soldiers deploying along the Beira corridor.
1983 April 346 RENAMO fighters led by Ossufo Momade entered Nampula province. They established a base near Metaveia on the north bank of the Ligonha River.
May Renamo claimed to have overrun army barracks at Chigubo. September RENAMO again took control of Marínguè. 150 RENAMO fighters led by Rocha Paulino moved into Niassa province. They established their base near Muacanha.
1984 January Late January: 60 RENAMO fighters led by Pedro Muchanga crossed the Incomáti River setting up bases near the Maputo.
May RENAMO fighters led by Rocha Paulino entered the Cabo Delgado province and established their base in Muikho area. In 1985 they moved to Namecala town. August Government forces overran RENAMO base at Tome.
December RENAMO established bases in Ponta d’Ouro, Bela Vista and Salamanga near the capital.
1985 August 6 August: RENAMO took control of Mopeia. 20 August: RENAMO took control of Morrumbala. 20–4: Armed forces destroyed RENAMO base at Muxamba. 23 August: Government forces captured RENAMO base in Maringué.David Alexander Robinson: Curse on the Land: A History of the Mozambican Civil War 28 August: Government forces captured RENAMO headquarters at Casa Banana in Gorongossa. They also attacked nearby RENAMO bases in Fábrica, Cavalo and Bunga. September Late September: Government forces captured large RENAMO base in Xichocoxa in southern Inhambane Province.
December RENAMO took control of Sena in northern Sofala, Tica in central Sofala, and Dombe in southern Manica killing 124 soldiers. RENAMO captured Chiromo garrison.
1986 January 9 January: RENAMO took control of Marromeu. 27 January: Government forces recaptured Marromeu.
February 14 February: Around 400 RENAMO fighters overran government positions at Casa Banana. RENAMO took control of Namacurra town. They occupied it for three days. March Guerrillas infiltrated the Matola area on the outskirts of the capital and clashed with government forces and the police. April 12 April: Government forces recaptured Casa Banana. 14–5 April: Government forces recaptured Cavalo. July
17–21 July: RENAMO claimed to have captured five town: Gurue, Maganja da Costa and Lion in Zambezia and Malea and Mutuali in Nampula province.RENAMO claims capture of five Mozambican towns 23 July: Government forces claimed to clear Machanga district from rebels.MNR driven from central Sofala district: Zambezia operations
September 15 September: Government forces destroyed rebel base at Chitende in Nampula province.Mozambican government military claims 23 September: RENAMO took control of Mutarara district forcing 1,000 soldiers to flee into Malawi.RENAMO controls biggest area yet 25 September: RENAMO launches big offensive, capturing Caia, Gile, Nametil. 26 September: RENAMO took control of Milange. 29 September: RENAMO took control of Alto Molocue, Licuari in Zambezia provinceMozambican rebels claim captured of towns and Milange.Death and destruction in Milange RENAMO took control of Inhaminga, Marromeu and Chuabo. October 6 October: RENAMO took control of Zumbo.Town is deserted after MNR attack 16 October: RENAMO took control of Villa Machado village.Mozambique: In Brief RENAMO took control of Derre in Murrumbala district. They also captured Megaza and Pinda.The socio-economic impact of war and flight in Posto Derre, Morrumbala District, Zambezia RENAMO occupied Namarroi for three days.
November 8 November: RENAMO took control of Ulongue kidnapping five foreigners.
December 29 December: RENAMO took control of Namarroi.
1987 January 4 January: RENAMO claimed to have captured Semacueza town near Beira.Mozambique: RENAMO military claim RENAMO overran army garrison at Meluco in Cabo Delgado.
February 10 February: Government forces recaptured Ceta. Government forces recaptured Mutarara bridge,Tide turns against MNR Sena, Mutara, Vila Nova and Bave.Forces recaptured five towns March 7 March: Government forces recaptured Mopeia. 9 March: Government forces took control of Luabo in Zambezia province. April Government forces recaptured Maringue, Muanza, Cheringoma and Marromeu in last few weeks.Sofala districts recaptured 28 April: Government forces recaptured Morrumbala district. 29 April: Government forces took control of Alfazema base in Morrumbaia district.MNR base captured June RENAMo took control of Nhanala in Gaza. August RENAMO launched Lightning Offensive attacking government positions to the north and west of the capital. Important rail and road crossroads were raided, with some of them being leveled, including Manjacaza in southern Gaza in early August. 10 August: RENAMO kill 92 civilians at Manjacaze in Gaza Province during the Manjacaze Massacre.
October 10 October: Government forces launched a three-week offensive in the south capturing several bases including Morrumane. 16 October: RENAMO kill 53 civilians at Taninga in Maputo Province during the First Taninga Massacre. 28 October: RENAMO kill 278 civilians at Taninga in Maputo Province during the Second Taninga Massacre.
November 25 November: Government forces destroyed RENAMO base in Matsequentra near the border with South Africa. 28 November: RENAMO kill 71 civilians and injure another 78 at Maluana in Maputo Province during the Maluana Massacre.
December 16 December: Government forces recaptured Namarroi. 24 December: Government forces recaptured Nhanala in Gaza province.MNR Gaza base captured
1988 RENAMO took control of Mugulama. January RENAMO destroyed the town of Namacata, on the outskirts of Quelimane, the provincial capital, before retreating.
February mid-February: RENAMO raided Bella Vista town on the Maputo River. 27–8 February: RENAMO took control of Marrapula. March Late March: Government forces destroyed tree RENAMO bases at Chiconjo, Maginge and Nhahombe reportedly killing 260 rebels. June 2 June: Government forces recaptured Milange and Derre, however they withdrew from Derre after a month. 1–14 June: Government forces destroyed RENAMO bases in Cachane, Malengane, Macandane, Marracuene, and Matongomane. 24 rebels were captured.Army Demolishes 6 MNR bases in Maputo province July 10 July: Government recaptured Gile. Over the past three months government forces recaptured Fingoe, Tsangano, Zobue, Cazula, Domue and Calomue. They also destroyed rebel bases in Matenje (Macanga district) and Chintola (Zumbo district).Bandits killed in Tete They also recaptured Zangue, Chiuta, Singue and Sangano.Armed forces report successes in Tete province August 17 August: RENAMO took control of Lugela. September 21 September: Armed forces destroyed rebel base in Nhinjele in Inharrime district killing two rebels.Inhambane rebels camp destroyed October RENAMO took control of Inhaminga.
November 27 November: RENAMO occupied Gurue. 30 November: Government forces recaptured Gurue.
December 2 December: Government forces recaptured Lugela. Late 1988: New pro-government armed group, Naparama, emerged Ribáuè district in Nampula province. It was led by Manuel Antionio.Spiritual Power & the Dynamics of War in the Provinces of Nampula & Zambezia
1989 January 7 January: RENAMO took control of Alto Molócuè and Machanga.RENAMO captures Alto Molocue, Machanga RENAMO took control of Makiwa (Mocuba district), and Chire (Morrumbala district).Nouvelle offensive rebelle
February 16 February: RENAMO occupied Ile district.