Amnesty International reported a brutal crackdown by Mozambique’s security forces following the October elections, with over 300 fatalities and thousands injured. Protests erupted in support of independent candidate Venancio Mondlane amid allegations of electoral fraud by the ruling party. The report calls for investigations into rights violations, including use of excessive force by police and military. The political tension continues as violence persists after the protests.
Mozambique experienced a severe crackdown on protests following the October 9 elections, as reported by Amnesty International. The three-month period saw over 300 people killed and more than 3,000 injured, according to local activists. Amnesty has urged authorities to investigate these killings and to hold accountable those responsible for the rights violations committed during this unrest.
Following the election, which resulted in Daniel Chapo from the ruling Frelimo party being declared the winner amid allegations of electoral fraud, thousands rallied in support of independent candidate Venancio Mondlane. Protests escalated after the fatal shooting of Mondlane’s lawyer and a Podemos official on October 18, leading to calls for demonstrations in response to what Mondlane termed political assassinations.
Amnesty’s report describes how from October 21 to January 25, Mozambique’s police and military utilized lethal force against mostly peaceful protesters, employing live and rubber bullets as well as tear gas. The civil society group Plataforma DECIDE reported 315 fatalities, a figure that starkly contrasts with the police’s acknowledgment of 96 deaths, including 17 of their officers.
Witness testimonies in Amnesty’s report detail arbitrary mass arrests, including of minors, with over 4,000 people detained. Additionally, there are claims that internet providers restricted social media access during crucial protest moments, inhibiting communication and organization among demonstrators.
In January, Chapo was inaugurated as president, and a meeting between him and Mondlane took place in March to discuss the investigation into protest-related deaths. The Frelimo party has controlled Mozambique since 1975 and has faced accusations of manipulating electoral processes, as confirmed by an EU observer report detailing election irregularities.
The backdrop of Mozambican politics is marked by a civil war that left Frelimo and Renamo as adversaries, which ended in 1992. The aftermath of the protests hints at an ongoing climate of violence, as demonstrated by the shooting of Mondlane’s campaign organizer, who survived a recent attack but remains hospitalized.
The situation in Mozambique following the recent elections highlights severe human rights violations, including mass killings and unlawful police actions. The independent candidate Mondlane’s protests against electoral fraud sparked widespread unrest, leading to a brutal government crackdown. Amnesty International’s calls for accountability emphasize the ongoing need for justice and investigation into these violent incidents, as Mozambique’s political landscape remains deeply affected by historical conflicts and current unrest.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
