Mozambique police fired on a peaceful opposition parade on March 5, 2025, injuring 16 people including children. This violence occurred despite heightened security for a political agreement signing, which excluded opposition leader Venancio Mondlane. Witnesses reported a rapid escalation from a festive atmosphere to chaos, with the use of lethal ammunition confirmed. Calls for police reform and better adherence to international guidelines on force are now being urged.
On March 5, 2025, Mozambique police opened fire on a peaceful opposition parade in Maputo, injuring at least 16 individuals, including two children, as reported by Human Rights Watch. The parade, led by former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, involved hundreds of cheerful participants. Approximately three kilometers into the procession, police attacked despite the event proceeding without incident in a city where security was heightened due to a political agreement signing that day.
The political agreement, intended to foster dialogue between President Daniel Chapo and several political parties, excluded Mondlane. This agreement sought to address ongoing electoral crises and implement necessary reforms over two years. Human Rights Watch condemned the police’s lethal response, emphasizing the alarming disregard for laws and lives during the incident. Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz highlighted the immediate need for investigation and accountability regarding police actions against the opposition.
Since late 2024, Mozambique has faced escalating protests regarding the controversial election results, rising living costs, and social issues. Security forces have been linked to numerous human rights violations, including over 300 unlawful killings. At 1 p.m. near the Hulene Expresso interchange, Mondlane’s convoy came across an armored police unit, which opened fire on the crowd with tear gas and live ammunition, leading to panic among participants.
Eyewitness testimonies reflected swift chaos during the incident. One local shop owner noted that the festive atmosphere rapidly shifted to a battleground. Another attendee recounted hearing gunfire while watching a police officer aiming an AK-47 at the crowd. Evidence of the attack was still present hours later, with bullet shells and tear gas canisters found on-site.
The police claimed their use of tear gas was necessary to manage traffic disruptions, suggesting that attendees aimed to obstruct the scheduled signing ceremony set for later that afternoon. However, they did not provide clarity on how they believed attendees posed such a threat with the event’s planned location miles away. In contrast, Mondlane’s team clarified the convoy’s intended end-point, suggesting no intent to disrupt the official event.
A police spokesperson expressed ignorance regarding the use of live bullets, although he acknowledged resulting injuries occurred as participants fled. Mozambique’s new minister of justice, Mateus Saize, criticized the commonality of using live ammunition in public demonstrations, recommending the prioritization of non-lethal tactics to mitigate violence.
International guidelines assert that police should minimize force and explore nonviolent options before engaging, particularly during assemblies. Specifically, the UN discourages firearms for crowd control purposes and emphasizes their non-usage in dispersing peaceful gatherings. The 2020 UN guidance specifies tear gas should be deployed only under strict circumstances and after adequate warnings.
Human Rights Watch emphasized the need for Mozambican authorities to go beyond simply recommending less-lethal methods. They asserted the importance of implementing security reforms and ensuring victims of police brutality receive proper redress for their injuries.
The police firing on a peaceful opposition parade in Mozambique highlights serious concerns regarding law enforcement tactics and human rights violations. With numerous protests stemming from alleged electoral injustice and social issues, the incident underscores an urgent need for comprehensive reforms in police conduct. The international community’s standards emphasize restraint and minimal force, suggesting that police practices in Mozambique require thorough reassessment to prevent escalating violence and ensure accountability.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
