Responding to a string of reported shootings in recent weeks targeting opposition supporters, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Khanyo Farisè, said:
“In recent weeks, there have been reports of gunmen firing at an opposition official’s house, the fatal shooting of two opposition members in a car and of police allegedly firing on a peaceful protest led by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, injuring at least a dozen people.
“These incidents raise fears of a return to the large-scale repression of protests and dissent following last year’s election, and they reflect the impunity that exists in Mozambique today.
“Mozambican authorities must urgently open investigations into all reports of human rights violations committed since the election, including the reported killings of more than 300 people. President Daniel Chapo must champion calls for accountability and use his authority to end the crackdown on protests and political opponents and bring suspected perpetrators to account.”
Background on the crackdown in Mozambique
Mozambique held national elections on 9 October 2024. Amid allegations of rigging, nationwide demonstrations erupted on 21 October 2024 following the killing of two prominent opposition-linked figures.
Since then, there have been credible reports of widespread human rights violations with more than 300 people reported killed, including children and bystanders, during attempts to crush the protests, with the vast majority of deaths blamed on security forces, according to figures gathered by monitoring groups.
Mozambican authorities must urgently open investigations into all reports of human rights violations committed since the election, including the reported killings of more than 300 people.
Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
Government forces have also shot and wounded more than 700 others and arbitrarily detained thousands, according to the same figures, with reports of torture and other ill-treatment in custody. The authorities have also reportedly targeted journalists, restricted internet access and deployed the military.
Protests have continued since President Chapo’s January inauguration. On 24 February, Chapo delivered a speech in Cabo Delgado province comparing protesters to “terrorists” and vowing to “shed blood” to end protests.
Header image: Supporters of the National Resistance of Mozambique (RENAMO) gather to protest the results of the local elections in Maputo on October 17, 2023.Photo by ALFREDO ZUNIGA/AFP via Getty Images.
