In response to reports of police firing on and detaining supporters of opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane at a rally in Nampula, Mozambique, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Khanyo Farise, stated:
“Regardless of the election outcome, Mozambican police must respect the right to peaceful assembly. Firing live rounds at a political rally and arbitrarily arresting opposition supporters is a serious violation of both Mozambican and international human rights law.”
Farise emphasized the need for police to ensure the safety of all individuals, regardless of their political views, during peaceful gatherings.
Background
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On October 16, police shot at Mondlane’s supporters, injuring at least one person during a rally that welcomed the candidate to Nampula, a known opposition stronghold. The police also arrested David Calisto Bandeira, a musician and prominent supporter of the opposition PODEMOS party, charging him with inciting violence through his pro-PODEMOS songs.
Supporters of Mondlane and PODEMOS have been protesting since October 12, following partial election results that indicated the ruling Frelimo party’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, leading in Nampula and other areas.
Additionally, on October 10, the day after the elections, police shot and injured two individuals at polling stations in Baundua, Buzi district, and in the George Dimitrov neighborhood of Maputo, the capital.
Mondlane has called for a nationwide strike on October 21, citing allegations of irregularities during the election campaign, voting, and tallying processes. Venâncio Mondlane
