Amnesty International has called upon the government of Mozambique, led by the Frelimo party, to undertake thorough investigations into severe human rights violations allegedly committed during an ongoing post-election crackdown. This comes in response to the violent aftermath of the presidential elections, where Daniel Chapo, the Frelimo candidate, was declared the victor with 65 percent of the vote. The announcement spurred widespread protests, resulting in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
Reports from monitoring groups indicate that as of mid-January, over 300 people have been killed and more than 700 injured, with these numbers continuously climbing. Incidents of arbitrary detentions, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment have also been documented, raising significant concerns about the enforcement practices by security forces. Amnesty International also highlighted the repression faced by the press, especially in the wake of alleged attacks on journalists and the unlawful detention and killing of Arlindo Chissale, an opposition journalist (Amnesty International Report).
Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, described the situation as the bloodiest election cycle Mozambique has seen since the civil war ended. Although the government has previously suggested potential investigations, Farisè emphasized the need for such inquiries to be transparent and credible.
The unrest began following allegations of vote-rigging by the opposition party PODEMOS, which rejected the preliminary results favoring the ruling party. The discontent escalated into nationwide demonstrations on October 21, 2024, after high-profile assassinations, including that of Paulo Guambe, a senior PODEMOS party member (JURIST Report).
Furthermore, in a related development in November 2024, authorities imposed restrictions on social media and messaging platforms amid protests, curbing the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Several international human rights organizations have condemned the actions of the Mozambique government, demanding an end to the violence and calling for accountability for the human rights violations reported (JURIST News).