Amnesty International has publicly urged Mozambican authorities to provide transparency on the investigations regarding the case of Inocêncio Manhique, a protester shot in the eye with a rubber bullet by police during a peaceful protest two years ago. According to Amnesty, the use of force in this situation was deemed unlawful, underlining the protest as being peaceful in nature. Despite his official complaint to the Attorney General’s Office for compensation, Manhique has not seen any judicial redress against the involved officers.
The incident raised concerns about Mozambique’s handling of public protests, especially in the aftermath of the late popular rapper Azagaia’s funeral procession, where police reportedly used teargas against mourners. Amnesty International had previously documented instances of “reckless and unlawful policing tactics” during such events, labeling them as “outrageous.” The Deputy Regional Director, Khanyo Farisé, emphasized the systemic issue of impunity within the security forces, highlighting a troubling pattern of violence against protesters, which has reportedly resulted in over 300 fatalities post-October elections. For more details, please refer to Amnesty International’s latest report here.
Human Rights Watch echoed similar concerns, calling for thorough investigations into the police’s actions. The incidents follow reports of gatherings honoring late critics like Azagaia, who used his platform to challenge the governance in Mozambique with works like “Povo no Poder” and “Vampiros.”
For a broader context on the ongoing situation involving Mozambique’s security forces and public protest dynamics, further insights are available through Human Rights Watch’s assessments here.