Journalist arrested in Cabo Delgado was transferred

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Journalist arrested in Cabo Delgado was transferred

4:35 CAT | 17 Jan 2019

in file CoM

Mozambican journalist Amade Abubacar was transferred from the military base in Mueda to a district police command, according to an official source. Abubacar was arrested Jan. 5 when photographing families fleeing attacks in Cabo Delgado.

Provincial Attorney General spokesman Armando Wilson told Lusa news agency that Amade Abubacar was transferred on Monday (14.01) from a military base in Mueda to the district police command following his arrest on January 5 at a transport hub in Macomia district as he photographed families leaving the region for fear of armed attacks in Cabo Delgado.

According to the spokesman, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has, through the National Criminal Investigation Service of Mozambique (SERNIC), received notification that the Mozambican police accuse Abubacar of “public instigation using information technology”.

According to the source, Amade Abubacar could be heard in the coming days by the court in Macomia.

Lusa contacted the journalist’s father, Abubacar Artur, who said he was unaware of his son’s transfer.

Criticism of detention

Abubacar is a journalist for community radio station Nacedje, and also freelances for the ‘Zitamar News’ website.

Civil society organisations and entities linked to Mozambican and foreign freedom of the press have been demanding his release, calling it illegal detention and intimidation of press freedom.

Abubacar is the second journalist arrested in Cabo Delgado in the last two months.

In December, the Southern African Social Communications Institute complained of the detention by the Mozambican army of three foreign journalists and one Mozambican on his way to the district of Palma.

Remote districts of the province of Cabo Delgado, in the extreme northeast of the country, have been targeted by attacks by unidentified groups since October 2017 in a wave of violence in that area began with an armed attack on police facilities in Mocímboa da Praia.

Dozens of attacks suspected to be carried out by the same type of group have followed.

According to official figures, about 100 people, including residents, alleged assailants and elements of the security forces, have died since the wave of violence began.

Source: DW