Amnesty International has released a significant report alleging human rights violations by Mozambican security forces following the country’s 2024 elections. The document examines the government’s response to protests that erupted after Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO)’s victory was declared, amidst widespread allegations of electoral irregularities by opposition groups.
The report highlights that the Mozambican authorities’ response to the demonstrations, which included excessive and unnecessary force, breached international norms. Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Khanyo Farise, condemned the government’s actions, stating that instead of addressing citizens’ grievances, the state employed violence against them, resulting in serious injuries, unlawful deaths, and numerous human rights infractions. Farise urged the new government under President Daniel Chapo to launch thorough and transparent investigations into these allegations.
The investigatory findings point to certain practices by Mozambican security forces that likely contravene rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Mozambique is a signatory. The identified rights at risk include the right to life, protection against arbitrary arrest, and freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.
Findings published by the Mozambican Platform for Democracy, Citizenship, Rights and Studies (DECIDE) underscore the severity of the situation, reporting 315 fatalities and over 4,000 arrests between October 21, 2024, and January 16, 2025, during the crackdown on protests. Amnesty International claims that justice remains largely inaccessible for these victims and has called on President Chapo to publicly denounce these violations and ensure reparative measures for those affected.
Since the general elections held on October 9, 2024, Mozambique has faced significant unrest. The elections’ aftermath saw restrictions on social media use as a means of quelling dissent, raising further concerns among international rights groups. Lack of transparent investigative processes continues to obstruct victims’ paths to justice in Mozambique.
For more detailed coverage, please visit the full article on JURIST.