Mozambique Elections: At least 30 detained in Maputo following political unrest – Bar Association

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Mozambique Elections: At least 30 detained in Maputo following political unrest – Bar Association

5:48 CAT | 22 Oct 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: OAM]

At least 30 people were detained in clashes between police and demonstrators in Maputo on Tuesday, five of whom were released after assistance from the Mozambican Bar Association (OAM), a source from the organisation told Lusa today.

Vitor da Fonseca, responsible for the justice and human rights assistance department at the OAM Provincial Council, told Lusa that the Mozambican Bar Association currently has a record of “30 arrests in the city of Maputo, of which five have already been released and the others are still in trial”.

The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) has not yet commented on the arrests made during the clashes with protesters in Maputo on Monday.

On Monday, the Mozambican Bar Association made available a list of contacts for professionals from the organization to provide assistance to victims of illegal arrests during the demonstrations to repudiate the double murder of supporters of Venâncio Mondlane, called by the presidential candidate himself.

According to Vitor da Fonseca, the OAM claims to have received at least 100 phone calls requesting assistance throughout the country related to alleged arrests during the demonstrations.

READ: Mozambique Elections: 73 arrested in Tete and Moatize over protests – Noticias

“They talk about riot crimes, where there is a group of people with the intention of perpetuating a serious crime”, Da Fonseca said, referring to the charges against most of those arrested.

In Maputo, the Bar Association received a total of 29 requests for support on Monday and one today as a result of the clashes that also left 16 people injured, five of whom are still hospitalized, in the Mozambican capital, according to the Maputo Central Hospital (HCM).

On Friday night, Elvino Dias, lawyer for Venâncio Mondlane, candidate for the presidential elections on the 9th, and Paulo Guambe, leader of Podemos, the party that supports Mondlane’s candidacy, were shot dead in Maputo.

After the double murder, Venâncio Mondlane, who is contesting the preliminary results of the elections that do not give him victory, called for peaceful marches in Mozambique on Monday. which were dispersed with shots in the air and tear gas in Maputo.

The police response to the demonstrations was condemned by the international community and there were several calls for restraint from both sides, namely Portugal, the European Union and the African Union.

The Mozambican capital is trying to return to normality today, with transport back in operation and traffic jams on the city’s main streets, with police reinforcements visible after the violent clashes the previous day.

Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane today called for two more days of nationwide “peaceful” protests and strikes in Mozambique starting on Thursday, the day the results of the general elections are announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE).

Source: Lusa