Mozambique: Military personnel on the streets, avenues and squares in Maputo – Carta

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Mozambique: Military personnel on the streets, avenues and squares in Maputo – Carta

1:30 CAT | 07 Nov 2024

This Thursday morning, the Mozambican army distributed face masks to the demonstrators gathered on Eduardo Mondlane avenue, according to a post by veteran Mozambican journalist Luis Nhachote on X- [Screen grab: @luisnhachote/X]

“If the escalation of violence continues, there will be no other alternative but to change the position of the forces on the ground and place the Armed Forces to protect the ends of the state.” These were the words spoken by the Minister of National Defence at a press conference on Tuesday, the aim of which was to announce the readiness of the FDS (Defence and Security Forces) to suppress peaceful demonstrations.

However, there was no need to change the order for the government to put into practice the plan announced by Cristóvão Artur Chume. This morning, military personnel from the Army branch of the Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique (FADM) are deployed across the main streets, avenues and squares of the country’s capital, armed with AK47-type firearms and clad in bulletproof vests, in a genuine war scenario.

The Maputo Toll Gate, the OMM square, the Destacamento Feminino and Robert Mugabe squares are among the locations occupied by the military, in a scenario reminiscent of the fight against terrorism in the province of Cabo Delgado.

According to Cristóvão Chume, “in recent days, we have seen an increase in preparatory acts with a firm and credible intention to change the democratically established power and the normal functioning of state and private institutions”.

“There is no one who attacks the Defence and Security Forces just for the simple pleasure of it. There is no one who prepares a march to Ponta Vermelha to take a dip in the pool for the pure pleasure of it. We have similar situations in the world that are being copied in our country. We must not deceive ourselves,” said Chume, guaranteeing that the FDS is ready to defend current power structures.

It should be noted that today’s schedule, on the eighth and last day of the third phase of demonstrations called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, is to march on the country’s capital. “We will swamp the city of Maputo with crowds of people until the will of the people is restored,” the Podemos-supported candidate argued yesterday.

Images shared this morning by TV SUCESSO show the PRM (Police of the Republic of Mozambique) positioning BTRs and Rapid Intervention Unit riot police along National Highway Number 4 (N4) in the Luís Cabral neighbourhood, one of the main points of unrest.
In fact, early today, the police fired tear gas at some homes in that neighbourhood, leaving one citizen unconscious, an act that only exacerbated the mood in the neighbourhood.

On Thursday morning, the Mozambican army distributed face masks to the demonstrators gathered on mozambican Main Street Eduardo Mondlane avenue pic.twitter.com/m14vf4hmP0

— Luis Nhachote 🇲🇿 (@luisnhachote) November 7, 2024